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The Battle of Lake Erie 

September, 1813 



One hut! tired fifty 
copies ii'ere printed 
This copy is number 




Co.MMODoRi' ()mvi:r Hazard Plrrv, akolt 1815 



The Battle of Lake Erie 

A CoUediion of Documents, chiefly by Commo. 
dore Perry: including the Court-martial 
of Commander Barclay 6^ the Court 
of Enquiry on Captain Elliott: 
edited, with Introdudion, An- 
notations, Bibliography, 6-^ 
Analytical Index, by 

Charles Oscar Paullin 



W^ith portraits^ facsimiles^ and map 




Cleveland: The Rowfant Club 
Odtober, 191 8 



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COPYRIGHT, I 918, BY 

THE ROWFANT CLUB 



DEC o'J ibis 



S)Cl.A5n875 



^ 



CONTENTS 

Preface ^3 

Introduction • ^7 

1 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry to Major- 

general William Henry Harrison, Septem- 
ber 10, 1813 43 

2 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry to Secretary 

of the Navy William Jones, September 10, 
1813 49 

3 Lieutenant George Inglis to Commander Rob- 

ert Heriot Barclay, September to, 1813 . 53 

4 Extract from the Diary of Dr. Usher Parsons, 

September 10, 1813 ...... 57 

5 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry to Major- 

general William Henry Harrison, Septem- 
ber II, 1813 61 

6 Commander Robert Heriot Barclay to Com- 

modore Sir James Yeo, September 12, 1813 . 67 

7 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry to Secretary 

of the Navy William Jones, September 13, 
. 1813 79 

8 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry to Secretary 

OF the Navy William Jones, September 13, 
1813 91 

9 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry to Major- 

general William Henry Harrison, Septem- 
ber 15, 1813 95 

10 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry to Secretary 
of the Navy William Jones, September 17, 
1813 99 



8 CONTENTS 



11 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry to Secretary 

OF the Navy William Jones, September i8, 
1813 .103 

12 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry to Secretary 

OF THE Navy William Jones, September 20, 
1813 109 

13 Secretary of the Navy William Jones to Com- 

modore Oliver Hazard Perry, September 21, 
1813 113 

14 Secretary of the Navy William Jones to Com- 

modore Oliver Hazard Perry, September 22, 
1813 119 

15 Dr. Usher Parsons to William Parsons, Sep- 

tember 22, 1813 123 

16 Secretary of the Navy William Jones to Com- 

modore Oliver Hazard Perry, September 29, 
1813 129 

17 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry to Secretary 

of the Navy William Jones, October 16, 1813 133 

18 Court-martial of Commander Robert Heriot 

Barclay, September, 18 14 . . . .137 

19 Court of Enquiry on Captain Jesse D. Elliott, 

April, 1815 . . . , . . .171 
A Bibliography of the Battle of Lake Erie , . 205 
Analytical Index 215 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

Portrait of Commodore Hazard Perry, about 1815 4 

From a portrait by Rembrandt Peale. In the collection 
of the New York Historical Society 

Map of the Battle of Lake Erie .... 25 
Reduced facsimile of a Dispatch of Commodore 
Perry to Secretary Jones, September to, 18 13 . 48 

From the original manuscript in the United States 
Navy Department Archives, Washington, D.C. 

Portrait of Major-general Willlam Henry Har- 
rison, 181 5 . . ; 63 

From the Portfolio (Philadelphia, 1815), third series, 
vol. V, 305 

Reduced facsimile of the Letter of Commodore 
Oliver Hazard Perry to Secretary of the Navy 
Jones . 108 

From the original manuscript in the United States 
Navy Department Archives, Washington, D.C. 

Glorious News 115 

Facsimile of a broadside announcing the victory. From 
the original in the collection of the New York Historical 
Society 

Portrait of Commander Robert Heriot Barclay 
R.N., ABOUT 1820 149 

From a photograph in the Librarj' of the United States 
Navy Department, Washington, D.C. The original paint- 
ing is in the possession of Mrs. Theodore C. Barclay, 
Edinburgh 



PREFACE 



PREFACE 

The documents selected for publication in this 
volume are chiefly of an official character, and are 
those of greatest interest and probative value. 
There are other documents, to be sure, which the 
future historian of the battle will wish to read, 
such as the affidavits of Perry's officers and Perry's 
charges against Captain Elliott, but these are un- 
official and are biased. Moreover, to have in- 
cluded them would have swelled the book beyond 
its prescribed limits. About one half of the docu- 
ments here presented have not been previously pub- 
lished, and many of those that have been published 
are now issued in a more complete and precise 
form. 

The editor wishes to thank the officials of the 
United States Navy Department and the Library 
of Congress in Washington and of the Public 
Record Office in London for the facilities afforded 
him in collecting materials for this volume. He 
is under special obligations to Mr. Charles West 
Stewart, superintendent of the Library and Naval 
War Records Office, to Captain Richard Thomas 
Mulligan, U.S.N. , assistant to the Bureau of Navi- 
gation, and to Mr. Goodloe Earle Yancey, chief 



14 PREFACE 



clerk of that bureau; all of the United States Navy 
Department, Washington, D.C. 

Charles Oscar Paullin 
Washington, D.C, March 25, 1918 



INTRODUCTION 



INTRODUCTION 

The primary theater of war in our second con- 
flict with Great Britain, 1812-1815, was the St. 
Lawrence water-system and the adjacent territory 
on each side of it. One of the two secondary the- 
aters of war was the maritime frontier and Atlantic 
seaboard, stretching from Maine to Louisiana 
(with the exception of Florida) ; and the other, the 
deep sea, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and In- 
dian Oceans. The Battle of Lake Erie was fought 
in the western part of the primary theater of war, 
on September 10, 18 13, midway in time between 
the commencement of the conflict in June, 1812, 
and its close in February, 1815. 

This battle was the turning point of the war in 
the west. Previous to it, the American ofifensive 
campaign in that quarter had been uniformly un- 
successful. In the summer of 181 2, General Isaac 
Hull, who had advanced into Canada and had be- 
sieged Maiden, abandoned the siege, retreated to 
Detroit, and there surrendered that post and his 
army to the British. About the same time Fort 
Michilimackinac, near the junction of Lake Hu- 
ron with Lake Michigan, fell into the hands of the 
enemy; and Fort Dearborn, on the present site of 
Chicago, was abandoned. The American military 



i8 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



boundary in the Northwest was pushed southward 
to the line of the Wabash and Maumee Rivers. 
Lake Erie was held by the enemy by reason of his 
naval superiority on that water. 

Having obtained possession of a considerable 
part of the American Northwest, the British car- 
ried the war south and southwest of Lake Erie. 
In September, 1812, they sent an expedition against 
Fort Wayne, Indiana. In May, 1813, they be- 
sieged Fort Meigs on the Maumee River, and in 
August they attacked Fort Stephenson on the San- 
dusky River. Each of these movements failed. 

Early in 18 13, with a view to recovering the 
ground lost in the previous year. General William 
Henry Harrison, who had succeeded Hull as com- 
mander of the American army in the west, assumed 
the offensive. In January a division of his army 
reached the Raisin River in southern Michigan, 
and was there defeated and captured by the Brit- 
ish. Harrison was compelled to abandon his plan 
of advancing into the enemy's territory by land, 
and to apply himself to the defense of his military 
frontier on the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers. 
Having successfully defended Forts Meigs and 
Stephenson, he made preparations to advance into 
Canada by way of Lake Erie. In the summer of 
1 8 13, he collected an army along the line of the 
Sandusky River and established his headquarters 
at Senecatown or Fort Seneca, ten miles up the 
Sandusky from Fort Stephenson, which was sit- 
uated about ten miles from the mouth of the river 



INTRODUCTION 19 



at Sandusky Bay. Some forty miles across the 
lake, on the Canada side of the Detroit River, near 
its mouth, was Amherstburg, where the British 
had a naval depot, and Fort Maiden, which was 
occupied by British troops. These were Harri- 
son's objectives. His passage across the lake, how- 
ever, was blocked by the British fleet, which was in 
possession of that water. The outcome of his sec- 
ond plan for offensive operations for 1813 depend- 
ed upon a trial at arms between the British and 
American naval forces on the lake. By August 
his preparations were nearing completion, and he 
anxiously awaited the coming of the American 
squadron, with whose commander he had been in 
correspondence for several months. 

When the war began, the Americans had no 
naval force on Lake Erie. As the enemy soon as- 
sembled a small fleet there, he held undisputed 
sway over that great natural highway which 
formed a most important part of his line of com- 
munication between Lower and Upper Canada, 
and along which he transported troops and mili- 
tary supplies. On his possession of Lake Erie 
depended his ability to hold Upper Canada (west 
of the Niagara River), Michigan, and the North- 
west. Early in the war the Americans had recog- 
nized the need of a naval force on Lake Erie, and 
on September 7, 1812, Commodore Isaac Chaun- 
cey, the commander-in-chief of the naval forces on 
the lakes, with headquarters at Sacketts Harbor, 
New York, sent Master-commandant Jesse Duncan 



20 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



Elliott to Buffalo to select a site for building ves- 
sels. Here in the fall of that year a small fleet was 
assembled. On February 17 of the following year, 
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry/ who had been 
stationed at Newport, Rhode Island, in command 
of a flotilla, was assigned to the command of the 
fleet intended for service on Lake Erie. On March 
27, he arrived at Erie, Pennsylvania, not far from 
the eastern end of the lake, where he found under 
construction the two sister-ships Lawrence and 
Niagara. They were brig-rigged, and of four 
hundred eighty tons burden. In June he removed 
to Erie the five vessels that had been collected at 
Buffalo. To these he added three other small 
craft, making a fleet of ten vessels, all but one of 
which participated in the battle of September 10. 
Small as these vessels were, it was necessary to 
remove the guns from the larger ones before they 
would pass over Erie Bar, which lay outside Erie 
Harbor. The existence of this bar made it pos- 
sible for the British fleet, which was blockading 
Erie, to pen up Perry's forces and render them use- 

1 Perry was born in South Kingston, Rhode Island, on August 23 
[this date is also given August 20 and August 21], 1785. During the 
Revolutionary War his father. Captain Christopher Raymond Perry, 
served both on land and at sea, and from 1798 to 1801 in the navy of 
the United States. The son entered the navy as a midshipman on 
April 7, 1798, and became a lieutenant on January 15, 1807, and a 
master-commandant on August 28, 1812. He served in the naval 
war with France and in the Tripolitan War, and after the latter 
struggle he commanded several vessels detailed for duty on the At- 
lantic coast. Early in the War of 1812 he was placed in command 
of the Newport flotilla. When appointed commander of the squadron 
on Lake Erie, he was twenty-seven and a half years of age. 



INTRODUCTION 21 

less. Fortunately, at an opportune moment, the 
British commander relaxed the blockade, and 
Perry was able to reach the open lake. At nine 
o'clock in the evening of August 4, the day on 
which he succeeded in this undertaking, Perry 
wrote to the secretary of the navy, dating his letter 
from his flag-ship, Lawrence, at anchor outside of 
Erie Bar: 

I have great pleasure in informing you that I have 
succeeded after almost incredible labour and fatigue to 
the men, in getting all the vessels I have been able to man 
over the bar, viz. Lawrence, Niagara, Caledonia, Ariel, 
Scorpion, Somers, Tigress, and Porcupine. They are 
neither well officered or manned, but as the exigency of 
Genrl. Harrison and the whole of the Western Country 
is such, I have determined to proceed on service. My 
government, should I be unsuccessful!, I trust will justly 
appreciate the motives which have governed me in this 
determination." 

Shortly after reaching the open lake. Perry vis- 
ited Long Point, the enemy's naval station opposite 
Erie. Of this visit he wrote thus to the secretary 
on August 8: 

I have the honor to inform you I have returned from 
Long Point without having seen the enemy ; we are now 
busily employed in getting in ballast, provisions, and pro- 
curing volunteers from the militia. I propose sailing this 
evening in pursuit of the enemy. 

Genl. Harrison writes me - the enemy launched their 
new ship on the 17th ult. If she is equipped, they will be 
considerably superior in guns to us. It is much to be re- 

"^ Masters' Commandant Letters, United States Na\n,' Department 
Archives, 1813, no. 93. 



22 



BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



gretted that our force could not have been got out before ; 
nothing but the hope of meeting their fleet before the new 
ship^ is ready could induce me to sail at this time, officered 
and manned as this squadron is.* 

A few days later Perry was joined by Master- 
commandant Jesse Duncan Elliott, with one 
hundred officers and men, and on August 12 he 
proceeded westward, writing as follows to the sec- 
retary nine days thereafter, fromoff Sandusky Bay: 

I have the honor to inform you I sailed from Erie on 
the 1 2th inst., and arrived off this place on the i6th, and 
immediately took steps for communicating with General 
Harrison; on the 19th I had the pleasure of receiving him 
on board. He is not yet ready to advance. I shall therefore 
sail for Maiden immediately and offer the enemy battle. 
I chaced on the 17th with the squadron one of the small 
vessels of war of the enemy. She escaped by night coming 
on and running among the small islands, when we were 
nearly up with her.^ 

Perry established his headquarters at Put-in- 
Bay, an indentation on the northern coast of South 
Bass Island, which lies some twenty miles north- 
west of the present city of Sandusky, Ohio. Here 
he was in excellent position to watch the move- 
ments of the British fleet, which had retired to its 
headquarters at Amherstburg, some thirty miles 
northwestward of Put-in-Bay. He was also con- 
venient to Harrison, who was at Seneca-town, thir- 
ty-five miles to the southward. A notion of his 
movements during the last days of August and the 

3 The Detroit. 

"^Masters' Commandant Letters, 1813, no. 101. 

5 — Ibid., no. III. 



INTRODUCTION 23 



first days of September may be obtained from a let- 
ter which he wrote to the secretary of the navy, ofif 
Sandusky Bay on September 2 : 

I have the honour to inform you that I anchored this 
afternoon with the squadron at this place for the purpose 
of communicating with Genl. Harrison. 

Since I last did myself the honour of writing you I 
have been twice ofif Maiden-first on the 24th and 25th of 
last month and again yesterday. Owing to a severe in- 
disposition which confined me to my berth I was under 
the necessity of anchoring the squadron off Bass Island, a 
situation which commanded the principal passage. The 
moment I was able to be on deck I again sailed for Mai- 
den and was yesterday all day ofi that place, close in. 
Their new ship is rigged, has top gallant yards athwart, 
and is anchored at the mouth of the harbour under the 
guns of a battery, together with other vessels - viz. the 
Queen Charlotte, Hunter, Lady Prevost, a sloop and 
schooner. Three other vessels are lying at the navy wharf. 

The crews of the different vessels have suffered much 
from a complaint occasioned, it is supposed, by the water. 
Many are still sick.® 

The moment that Perry reached the open lake 
from Erie, the naval superiority on Lake Erie 
shifted from the British to the Americans, and the 
former were compelled to act on the defensive. 
The British fleet was commanded by Commander 
Robert Heriot Barclay,^ whose flag-ship, the De- 

^ Masters' Commandant Letters, 1813, no. 115. 

■^Barclay had fought as a lieutenant at Trafalgar under Nelson, 
where he lost an arm. "Our father with one arm," Tecumseh called 
him. He was made a commander in 1813 and a captain in 1824. 
He died at Edinburgh on May 8, 1837 at the age of fifty-two (L. 
Homfray Irving's Officers of the British Forces in Canada, 228). 
When the battle of Lake Erie was fought, he was almost precisely the 
same age as Perry. 



24 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

troit, was his largest vessel. She was ship-rigged, 
and of four hundred ninety tons burden. When 
Perry sailed from Erie, she was at Amherstburg 
under construction. The addition of this vessel to 
the British naval forces, and their urgent need of 
supplies, caused their commander to reach the deci- 
sion to leave his headquarters and contest with 
Perry the possession of the lake. 

Barclay left Amherstburg on September 9, and 
at sunrise on the following day his fleet was sighted 
in the Northwest by the Americans in Put-in-Bay, 
who at once sailed out to meet their antagonist. 
The wind, however, was light, and it was almost 
noon before the two squadrons^ were in range of 
each other's guns. At a quarter before twelve 
Barclay began the action by firing a few long guns, 
and several minutes later Perry returned the fire. 
The place of encounter was some ten miles about 
west-northwest of Put-in-Bay, ofif West Sister Is- 
land. The battle lasted a little more than three 
hours, that is until about three o'clock, when the 

s The American squadron consisted of the following vessels: brigs - 
Lawrence (flag-ship), 20 guns, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry; 
Niagara, 20, Master-commandant Jesse Duncan Elliott; Caledonia, 3, 
Lieutenant Daniel Turner; schooners -Ariel, 4, Lieutenant John 
Packet; Scorpion, 2, Sailing-master Stephen Champlin; Somers, 2, 
Sailing-master Thomas C. Almy; Trippe, i. Lieutenant Thomas Holdup 
Stevens; Tigress, i. Lieutenant A. H. M. Conckling; and Porcupine, 
I, Sailing-master George Senat. The British squadron consisted of 
the following vessels: ships - Detroit (flag-ship), 19 guns. Commander 
Robert Heriot Barclay; Queen Charlotte, 17, Commander Robert A. 
Finnis; schooners -Lady Prevost, 13, Lieutenant Edward W. Buchan; 
Chippewa (or Chippeway), i. Master's Mate J. Campbell; brig 
Hunter, 10, Lieutenant George Bignell; and sloop Little Belt, 3, Lieu- 
tenant Robert Irvine. 



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BATTLE OF LAkE ERIE 

SEPTEMBl- - 

at the : 



. P0ATE6 CC , "l.v. 



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BATILE OF LAKE ERIE 



/roit, was his largest vessel. She was ship-rigged, 
and of four hundred ninety tons burden. When 
Perry sailed from Erie, she was at Amherstburg 
under construction. The addition of this vessel to 
the British naval forces, and their urgent need of 
supplies, caused their commander to reach the deci- 
sion to leave his headquarters and contest with 
Perry the possession of the lake. 

Barclay left Amherstburg on September 9, and 
at sunrise on the following day his fleet was sighted 
in the Northwest by the Americans in Put-in-Bay, 
who at once sailed out to meet their antagonist. 
The wind, however, was light, and it was almost 
noon before the two squadrons' were in range of 
each other's guns. At a quarter before twelve 
Barclay began the action by firing a few long guns, 
and several minutes later Perry returned the fire. 
The place of encounter was some ten miles about 
west-northwest of Put-in-Bay, ofif West Sister Is- 
land. The battle lasted a little more than three 
hours, that is until about three o'clock, when the 

8 The American squadron consisted of the following vessels: brigs - 
Lawrence (flag-ship). 20 guns, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry; 
Niagara, 20, Master-commandant Jesse Duncan Elliott; Caledonia, 3, 
Lieutenant Daniel Turner; schooners -Ariel, 4, Lieutenant John 
Packet; Scorpion, 2, Sailing-master Stephen Champlin; Somers, 2, 
Sailing-master Thomas C. Almy; Trippe, i, Lieutenant Thomas Holdup 
Stevens; Tigress, i, Lieutenant A. H. M. Conckiing; and Porcupine, 
1, Sailing-mas-er George Senat. The British squadron consisted of 
the following vessels: ships-Detroit (flag-ship), 19 guns. Commander 
Robert Heriot Barclay; Queen Charlotte, 17, Commander Robert A. 
Finnis; schooners - Lady Prevost, 13, Lieutenant Edward W. Buchan; 
Chippewa (or Chippeway), i. Master's Mate J. Campbell; brig 
Hunter, 10, Lieutenant George Bignell; and sloop Little Belt, 3, Lieu- 
tenant Robert Irvine. 



INTRODUCTION 27 

British surrendered. A dramatic event, which 
divides the battle into two well-defined parts, was 
Perry's transferring of his flag from the Lawrence 
to the Niagara, about half past two in the after- 
noon. Up to this time the Niagara had rendered 
her consorts comparatively little assistance. The 
reasons why she was not brought into closer action 
have long been a subject of controversy.^ For the 
details of the battle, the account of Colonel Theo- 
dore Roosevelt, an authority on the naval history of 
the War of 181 2, may be quoted: 

Perry had nine vessels, the brigs Lawrence, Niagara, 
and Caledonia, the schooners Ariel, Scorpion, Somers, Por- 
cupine, and Tigress, and the sloop Trippe. Their total 
tonnage was 1671, and their total crews amounted to 
532 men ; but sickness had been so prevalent that only 
about 416 were fit for duty. In his vessels fifty-four guns 
were mounted, fourteen of which were on pivots. In 
the action his broadside weight of metal was 896 pounds ; 
288 of which were thrown from long guns. The Lawr- 
ence and Niagara were large men-of-war brigs, armed in 
the usual manner with eighteen 32-pr. carronades, and 
two long 12's apiece. The smaller vessels, in addition to 
two or three light carronades, carried long 32's, 24's, and 
12's. Barclay's squadron consisted of six vessels, the ships 
Detroit and Queen Charlotte, the brig Hunter, the 

^ For an account of this controversy see T. R. Lounsbury's James 
Fcnlmore Cooper (American Men of Letters series), 208-230; Justin 
Winsor's Narratl've and Critical History of America, vol. vii, 432-433; 
and Nina Moore and Francis Tiffany's Harm Jan Huidekoper, 188- 
189. See also the "Bibliography" at the end of this volume. Rear- 
admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan {Sea Poiver in its Relation to the 
War of 1812, vol. ii, 76-99) replies to the arguments of Cooper, who 
was Elliott's ablest defender. Mahan gives a verdict In favor of 
Perry, which agrees, it would seem, with the expert naval opinion 
of the present time. 



28 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

schooners Lady Prevost, and Chippeway, and the sloop 
Little Belt. The aggregate tonnage was 1460; the aggre- 
gate of the crews summed up to about 440 men. The 
total number of guns was sixty-three, five being on pivots. 
The total broadside weight was 459 pounds, of which 195 
were from long guns; for many of Barclay's guns were 
of very small calibre, including long 2's, 4's, and 6's, and 
i2-pr. carronades. 

The difference in number of men between" the two 
squadrons was not very material. Both had scratch crews, 
made up of regular seamen, of lake seamen, of British reg- 
ulars, and a few Indians in Barclay's squadron, and Amer- 
ican militia and a few negroes in Perry's. In tonnage 
Perry was superior by just about what would be indicated 
by the possession of three extra schooners. The decisive 
difference was in the armament. In weight of broadside 
the superiority of the Americans in long-gun metal was 
nearly as three to two, and in carronade metal it was 
greater than two to one. The ship Detroit mounted chief- 
ly long guns, and was on the whole probably rather supe- 
rior to either of Perry's big brigs. The Queen Charlotte 
was greatly inferior to either. The small vessels lacked 
the long guns which made the small American vessels for- 
midable. In smooth water and at a distance the long guns 
of Perry's smaller vessels gave his squadron a very marked 
advantage ; in a brisk breeze his two big brigs should have 
been almost a match for the entire British squadron. 

When, at daylight on September loth, Perry discov- 
ered Barclay's squadron he was at anchor at Put-In-Bay. 
As soon as the ships were made out. Perry got under way 
and bore down toward them, having the weather gage. 
Barclay lay to in close column, the Chippeway ahead, fol- 
lowed by the Detroit, the Hunter, the Queen Charlotte, 
the Lady Prevost, and the Little Belt. Perry went down 
with the wind off his port beam, and made the attack in 
column ahead obliquely. The Ariel and Scorpion led the 



INTRODUCTION 29 

line a little ahead, and on the weather bow, of Perry's 
ship the Lawrence. Next came the Caledonia, and after 
her the Lawrence's twin sister, the Niagara, under Cap- 
tain Jesse D. Elliott, whom Perry had superseded, and 
who showed by his actions that he felt no particular zeal 
in helping Perry to gain glory. The Niagara was followed 
by the Somers, the Porcupine, the Tigress, and the Trippe 
in that order. 

The w^inds were light and baffling, and, as the American 
ships came down, they formed a straggling and irregular 
line which approached at an angle of about fifteen degrees 
to the line of Barclay's squadron, which was in much bet- 
ter and more compact order. At a quarter to twelve the 
Detroit opened the action with her long 24's. Her first 
shot fell short ; her second crashed through the Lawrence ; 
whereupon the Scorpion replied with her long 32. Ten 
minutes after the Detroit had first fired, the Lawrence, 
which had shifted her port bow-chaser into the place of 
one of the carronades on her starboard side, opened with 
both her long 12's. At noon she tried her carronades, 
but the shot fell short. Shortly afterwards the action be- 
came general on both sides, though the rearmost Ameri- 
can vessels were still so far away that they were them- 
selves not exposed to danger at all, and only the longest 
guns occasionally reached. The Lawrence was steadily 
nearing Barclay's line. Perry making every effort to close; 
but it was half an hour after the Detroit had opened be- 
fore the Lawrence got to the close quarters necessary for 
the effective use of her carronades. Throughout this half 
hour Barclay's leading ships had concentrated their fire on 
Perry's vessel, and so the Lawrence had suffered a good 
deal ; though the schooners Scorpion and Ariel had been 
pounding away with their long guns to help her. 

For some time, therefore, the action at the head of the 
line was in favour of the British. The sides of the Detroit 
were dotted with marks of shot that did not penetrate, 



30 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

partly because of the long range, partly because the Amer- 
icans in this action seemed to show a tendency to over- 
load their carronades. There was a carronade in the 
Scorpion which upset down the hatchway as soon as it 
got hot; and one of the long guns of the Ariel burst. On 
the other side, the Detroit had her own difficulties. There 
were no locks for her guns, thanks to the hurry with 
which she had been prepared, and they had to be dis- 
charged by flashing pistols at the touch-holes. Neverthe- 
less, Barclay fought her to perfection, and the trained 
artillerists among his seamen and soldiers aimed the guns 
so well that Perry had his hands full. The Caledonia 
came down beside the Lawrence, helping to divert the 
attention of the Hunter and the Queen Charlotte from 
her. But Elliott handled the Niagara poorly. He did 
not follow Perry to close quarters, but engaged the 
Queen Charlotte at a distance which rendered the car- 
ronades of both vessels useless. In fact, the only eflFective 
fighting at the rear of the lines was that done by the four 
American gun-vessels astern of the Niagara. Each of 
these had a long 32 or 24, of which, on such smooth seas, 
she could make good use against the Lady Prevost, 
Queen Charlotte, and Hunter; the latter having an ab- 
surd armament of little guns which threw a broadside of 
thirty pounds all told. Both Commander Finnis, of the 
Queen Charlotte, and his first lieutenant, Thomas Stokoe, 
were killed early in the action. Her next in command, 
the Canadian Lieutenant Irvine, finding that he could 
make no effective answer to the long guns of the schoon- 
ers, drew forward and joined in the attack on the Lawr- 
ence at close quarters. The Niagara was left practically 
without any antagonist, and, at the end of the line, the 
fight became one at long range between the Somers, Ti- 
gress, Porcupine, and Trippe on the one side, and the 
Lady Prevost, and Little Belt on the other. The Lady 
Prcvost's armament consisted chiefly of i2-pr. carronades. 



INTRODUCTION 31 

She made a noble fight, but such an armament at long 
range in smooth water was utterly useless against the 
heavy guns of the schooners. Her commander, Lieuten- 
ant Buchan, and her first lieutenant, Francis Rolette, 
were both seriously wounded, and she was greatly cut up 
and began to fall to leeward. 

The fight at the head of the line was waged with 
bloody obstinacy between the Scorpion, Ariel, Lawrence, 
and Chesapeake [Caledonia?] on the one hand, and the 
Caledonia [Chippeway?], Detroit, Queen Charlotte, and 
Chippeway [Hunter?] on the other. Instead of pairing 
in couples, the ships on each side seemed to choose the 
largest opponents as special targets. The Americans con- 
centrated their fire on the Queen Charlotte, and Detroit ; 
while the British devoted their attention mainly to the 
Lawrence, which had already suffered severely while 
working down to get within range of her carronades. 
The Queen Charlotte was soon almost disabled. The 
Detroit was also pounded practically to a standstill, suf- 
fering especially from the raking fire of the gunboats. 
Barclay was fighting her himself with the utmost gal- 
lantry; but he was so badly wounded that he was at last 
obliged to quit the deck. His first lieutenant, John Gar- 
land, was also wounded mortally; but Lieutenant George 
Inglis, to whom the command was turned over; continued 
the fight as gamely as ever. 

Meanwhile the Lawrence was knocked to pieces by 
the combined fires of her adversaries. Of the one hundred 
and three men who had been fit for duty when she began 
the action, eighty-three were killed or wounded. As the 
vessel was so shallow, the ward-room, which was used as 
the cockpit into which the wounded were taken, was 
mainly above water, and the shots came through it con- 
tinually. Many of the wounded were killed or maimed 
while under the hands of the surgeons. The first lieu- 
tenant, Yarnall, was hit three times, but refused to leave 



32 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

the deck, and fought the ship to the last. The only other 
lieutenant on board, Brooks, of the marines, was mor- 
tally wounded. Every brace and bowline was shot 
away, and the hull was so riddled that it looked like a 
sieve. One by one the guns on the engaged side were 
dismounted, while the men were shot down until they 
could not man even the guns that were left. However, 
the slaughter of four-fifths of his crew before his eyes did 
not daunt Perry in the least. When there were no men 
left to serve the last three or four guns, he called down 
through the skylight for one of the surgeon's assistants. 
The call was repeated and obeyed, until all those officers 
had been used up. Then he shouted down, "Can any of 
the wounded pull a rope ?" and three or four of them hob- 
bled up on deck to help him lay the last guns. Finally, 
Perry himself was left with only the purser and chap- 
lain, and by their aid he fired a final shot, and immediately 
afterwards, the gun which he had used, the only one left, 
was disabled. 

Meanwhile Mr. Turner in the Caledonia, having put 
his helm up, had passed the Lawrence and run into the 
British line, where he engaged at half pistol-shot distance, 
though his little brig was absolutely without quarters. 

Perry's vessel lay an unmanageable hulk on the water, 
while the shot ripped through her sides, and there was not 
a gun that could be fired in return ; but Perry had not the 
slightest intention of giving up the fight. He had gone 
into the battle flying on his flag Lawrence's dying words, 
"Don't give up the ship" ; and he intended to live up to the 
text. The Niagara was at that time a quarter of a mile to 
windward of the Lawrence on her port-beam. She was 
steering for the head of Barclay's line, and was almost un- 
injured, having taken very little part in the combat, and 
never having been within a distance that rendered her 
carronades of any use. Perry instantly decided to shift 
his broad pennant to her. Leaping into a boat with his 



INTRODUCTION 33 

brother and four seamen, he rowed to the fresh brig, 
having literally been hammered out of the Lawrence by 
the pounding which he had received for two hours and a 
half. As soon as he reached the Niagara, he sent Elliott 
astern to hurry up the three rearmost schooners; for the 
sloop Trippe, on her own account, had steered straight for 
the British line, and was very near the Caledonia. The 
Lawrence, having but fourteen sound men left, struck her 
colours ; but the action began again before possession could 
be taken of her, and she drifted astern out of the fight. 
At a quarter to three the schooners had closed, and Perry 
bore up to break Barclay's line, the powerful brig to 
which he had shifted his broad pennant being practically 
unharmed, as indeed were his rearmost gun-vessels. 

The British ships had fought until they could fight no 
longer. The two smallest, the Chippeway and Little Belt, 
were not much damaged ; but the other four were too dis- 
abled either to fight or manoeuvre effectively so as to 
oppose fresh antagonists. However they answered as 
best they could, with great guns and musketry, as the Ni- 
agara stood down and broke the British line, firing her 
port battery into the Chippeway, Little Belt, and Lady 
Prevost, and her starboard battery into the Detroit, 
Queen Charlotte, and Hunter, raking on both sides. The 
Detroit and Charlotte had been so cut up aloft, almost 
every brace and stay being shot away, that they could not 
tack, and tried to wear; but they fell foul of one another, 
and the Niagara luffed athwart their bows, firing uninter- 
ruptedly, while, under their sterns, the Caledonia and the 
schooners stationed themselves so close that some of their 
grape-shot, passing over the British vessels, rattled through 
Perry's spars. The Lady Prevost had sagged to leeward, 
an unmanageable wreck. Barclay had done everything in 
the power of man to do. The first and second in com- 
mand of every one of his six vessels had been either killed 
or wounded; and at three o'clock his flag was struck. 



34 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

The Chippeway and Little Belt tried to escape, but were 
overtaken and brought to by the Trippe and the Scorpion, 
the commander of the latter, Mr. Stephen Champlin, 
firing the last shot of the battle, as he had likewise fired 
the first on the American side. 

None of the American ships had suffered severely, 
excepting the Lawrence, to whose share over two-thirds 
of the total loss had fallen. In breaking the line, how- 
ever, the Niagara had suffered somewhat; and the Cale- 
donia, Ariel, Scorpion, and Trippe had come in for some 
of the pounding. All told, twenty-seven men had been 
killed and ninety-six wounded, three mortally. The Brit- 
ish loss amounted to forty-one killed and ninety-four 
wounded, chiefly in the Detroit and Queen Charlotte.^** 

The effects of this decisive victory were many 
and far-reaching. The Americans were left in 
complete control of Lake Erie, which they main- 
tained until the end of the war. Harrison was able 
at once to take the offensive. Before the end of 
September Perry had transported the American 
army across the lake, and the British had evacuated 
Maiden, Amherstburg, and Detroit, had aban- 
doned Michigan and the Northwest (with the ex- 
ception of Michilimackinac), and were fleeing 
eastward through Upper Canada. Harrison pur- 
sued the enemy, overtook him, and on October 5 
defeated him and captured his army in the Battle 
of the Thames. ^^ All the western part of Upper 
Canada fell into the hands of the Americans. The 



^^ From Col. Theodore Roosevelt's chapter "The War with the 
United States, 1813-15," in William Laird Clowes's T/ie Royal Navy, 
vol. vi, 120-126. 

11 Perry took part in the battle as an aide-de-camp of Harrison. 



INTRODUCTION 35 

results of Perry's victory were not alone of a mili- 
tary character. They were felt at Ghent in 1814 
when the treaty of peace was being negotiated. 
They greatly strengthened the American negoti- 
ators and correspondingly weakened the British, 
who attempted but failed to limit the sovereignty 
of the United States over a part of the Northwest. 
Perry'" remained in command of the squadron 
until October 25, when he was succeeded by Elliott. 
On his return home he was everywhere received 
with great honor. Already the president had pro- 
moted him to a captaincy," the highest rank in the 
navy known to the law." Several cities voted him 
swords, Boston gave him a service of plate, and 

12 Perry lived less than six years after iiis great victory. On July 
17, 1814, he was ordered to proceed from Newport to Baltimore and 
take charge of the frigate Java, then under construction at the latter 
city. Six weeks later he was employed in harassing a British squadron, 
which was retreating down the Potomac, by means of some batteries 
which he erected at Indian Head, Maryland. In 1816-1817, he was in 
command of the frigate Java, in the Mediterranean, where we were 
having trouble with the Algerines. It was during this tour of duty 
that differences arose between him and his captain of marines that 
culminated in a duel. In i8i8, his controversy with Captain Elliott 
threatened to lead to a duel with that officer. In the summer of 1819, 
Perry was sent on an important mission to South America, with sev- 
eral war-ships. Soon after reaching his destination, he fell ill with 
the yellow fever, and on August 23 he died at Port of Spain, Island 
of Trinidad. The governor of the island. Sir Ralph Woodford, 
showed him every possible honor and accorded him a military funeral 
{Niles' Register, vol. xvii, i\-']2). In 1826 his body was brought to 
his native land by the United States sloop-of-war Lexington, and was 
rc-interred with much ceremony at Newport, Rhode Island. 

^^ See Document 16. 

1"* The rank of commodore was not specifically created by statute 
until 1862. 



36 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

Newport presented him with a similar token of 
regard.'^ He was dined and toasted at Baltimore, 
Washington, and Boston, and the legislatures of 
Pennsylvania and Georgia thanked him for his 
great victory. On April i8, 1814, Congress author- 
ized the president to purchase the vessels captured 
by Perry for two hundred fifty-five thousand dol- 
lars, and divide that sum among the captors as 
prize money; and it gave Perry an additional sum 
of five thousand dollars.'^ On January 6, it passed 
the following resolution: 

That the thanks of Congress be, and the same are here- 
by presented to Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, and through 
him to the officers, seamen, marines, and infantry serving 
as such, attached to the squadron under his command, 
for the decisive and glorious victory gained on Lake Erie, 
on the tenth of September, in the year one thousand, eight 
hundred and thirteen, over a British squadron of superior 
force. 

15 The inhabitants of Quebec presented Barclay with a superb piece 
of plate, on which the following inscription was engraved: "Pre- 
sented to Captain Robert Heriot Barclay, of his Majesty's royal navy, 
by the inhabitants of Quebec, in testimony of the sense they justly en- 
tertain of the exalted courage and heroic valour displayed by him, and 
by the officers, seamen, soldiers, and marines of the flotilla under his 
command, in an action with a greatly superior fleet of the enemy upon 
Lake Erie, on the loth day of September, 1813; when the presence of 
a few additional seamen was only wanting to have effected the total 
discomfiture of the hostile squadron. Of Captain Barclay it may 
most truly be said, that although he could not command victory, he 
did more -he nobly deserved it." Barclay received also a piece of 
plate from the Canada merchants residing in London {Naval Chroni- 
cle, vol. XXXV, 378-379). At a public dinner in his honor, given at 
Terrebonne, Canada, in 1814, Barclay gave the following volunteer 
toast: "Commodore Perry, the gallant and generous enemy" {N ties' 
Register, vol. vi, 175). 

I'' United States Statutes at Large, vol. iii, 130. 



INTRODUCTION 37 



That the President of the United States be requested to 
cause gold medals to be struck, emblematical of the action 
between the two squadrons, and to present them to Cap- 
tain Perry and Captain Jesse D. Elliott, in such manner 
as will be most honorable to them ; and that the President 
be further requested to present a silver medal with suit- 
able emblems and devices to each of the commissioned offi- 
cers, either of the navy or army, serving on board, and a 
sword to each of the midshipmen and sailing-masters who 
so nobly distinguished themselves on that memorable day.^' 



1" United States Statutes at Large, vol. iii, 141. 



DOCUMENTS 



I 

Dispatch of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 

TO 

Major-general William Henry Harrison 

From a copy (probably of the original) former- 
ly in the possession of Mr. William Keeney Bixby, 
of St. Louis, Missouri. It is not known whether 
the original dispatch is still in existence. Mr. Ben- 
son John Lossing in his Pictorial Field-Book of the 
War of 1812, page 530, publishes a "Facsimile of 
Perry's Dispatch," without the date and address. 
Lossing says that Perry's two dispatches of Septem- 
ber 10 were carried to their destination by Lieuten- 
ant Dulaney Forrest, who took with him to Wash- 
ington the captured British flags. Forrest carried 
the flags but not the dispatches. See Document 10. 



I. COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 

TO MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM 

HENRY HARRISON 

U.S. Brig Niagara, off the Western Sisters/' Head 
of Lake Erie Sept. lo, 1813-4 p.m. 

Dear Genl : We have met the enemy, and they 
are ours -two ships, two biAgs, one schooner and 
one sloop. ^^ 

Yours with great respect and esteem 

O. H. Perry 



18 An island near the western end of Lake Erie, about thirty miles 
northwest of Sandusky, Ohio, and ten miles southwest of Middle Sister 
and East Sister Islands. 

19 The captured fleet consisted of two ships, two schooners, one 
brig and one sloop. Perry gives the list correctly in his official letter 
(see Document 7). 

[43] 



II 

Letter of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 

TO 

Secretary of the Navy William Jones 

From the original in the United States Navy 
Department Archives, Washington, Captains' Let- 
ters, 1813, vol. vi, no. 33. This has been published 
many times. It appeared in Niles' Register (Balti- 
more), vol. V, 60, and in the National Intelligencer 
(Washington), September 22, 1813. Lossing's 
statement (Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 1812, 
531) that it was carried to Washington, together 
with the captured flags, by Lieutenant Dulaney For- 
rest, is erroneous. The dispatch reached Washing- 
ton on September 21 (see Document 13), and For- 
rest with the flags on October 10 (see Document 10 
and the National Intelligencer, October 15, 18 13). 

[Identically the same letter, even to the hour, 4 
p. m., was written by Commodore Perry to Commo- 
dore Isaac Chauncey, commanding United States 
Naval forces on the lakes, the original of which is 
preserved in the archives of the New York Historical 
Society, having been presented to it May 2, 1854, by 
the reverend Peter S. Chauncey, son of Commodore 
Chauncey.] 

William Jones was secretary of the navy from 
January 12, 1813, to December i, 1814. After serv- 
ing in the Revolutionary marine, he entered the mer- 
chant service. In 1 801- 1803 he was a member of 
Congress, from Pennsylvania. After his term as sec- 
retary of the navy he was president of the United 
States Bank and collector of the port of Philadelphia. 












y/9 . 






^'' '"^ ''-l&l^^ /^. ^'^^r^ 









n 

\ 

\ 

Reduced facsimile of the Dispatch of Commodore Perry to 

Secretary Jones, September io, 1813 

From the original manuscript in the United States Navy Department 

Archives, Washington, D.C. 



2. COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 

TO SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 

V^ILLIAM JONES 

U.S. Brig Niagara off the Western Sister, Head 
of Lake Erie Sepr lo, 1813-4 p.m. 

Sir: I[t] has pleased the Almighty to give to 
the arms of the United States a signal victory over 
their enemies on this lake- the British Squadron 
consisting of two ships, two brigs, one schooner and 
one sloop have this moment surrendered to the 
force under my command, after a sharp conflict. 
I have the honor to be, Sir 

very respectfully your obdt. servt. 

O. H. Perry 



[49] 



Ill 

Letter of Lieutenant George Inglis 

TO 

Commander Robert Heriot Barclay 

From the original in the Public Record Office, 
London. This document is printed in Niles' Reg- 
ister (Baltimore), volume vi, 182, and in the Naval 
Chronicle (London), volume xxxi, 252. 



3. LIEUTENANT GEORGE INGLIS ^" TO 
COMMANDER ROBERT HERIOT BARCLAY 

His Majesty's late Ship Detroit 

loth Septr., 1813 

Sir, I have the honor to transmit to you an 
account of the termination of the late unfortunate 
action with the enemy's squadron. 

On coming on the quarter-deck, after your being 
wounded, the enemy's second brig," at that time on 
our weather beam, shortly afterwards took a posi- 
tion on our weather bow, to rake us, to prevent 
which in attempting to wear to get our starboard 
broadside to bear upon her, a number of the guns 
of the larboard broadside being at this time dis- 
abled, fell on board the Queen Charlotte, at this 
time running up to leeward of us, in this situation 
the two ships remained for some time, as soon as 
we got clear of her, I ordered the Queen Charlotte 
to shoot ahead of us if possible, and attempted to 
back our fore topsail to get astern, but the ship lay- 
ing completely unmanageable, every brace cut 

^^ Inglis was second in rank on board the Detrort. When Barclay, 
on being wounded, went below, about 2:30 p.m., Inglis succeeded to 
the command. He gives an account of the battle from this time until 
its close. 

21 The Niagara. 

[53] 



54 INGLIS TO BARCLAY 



away, the mizen topmast and gaff down, all the 
other masts badly wounded, not a stay left forward, 
hull shattered very much, a number of the guns 
disabled, and the enemy's squadron raking both 
ships, ahead and astern, none of our own in a situa- 
tion to support us, I was under the painful necessity 
of answering the enemy to say we had struck, the 
Queen Charlotte having previously done so. 

I have the honor to be, etc. GEORGE INGLIS. 



IV 

Extract from the Diary 

OF 

Dr. Usher Parsons 

This document is reprinted from the Rhode 
Island Historical Society Publications, new series, 
volume vii, 245-246. It is printed in part in Tris- 
tam Burges's Battle of Lake Erie, 84-85. Its 
phraseology is that of a ship's log and of a seaman 
and not that of a diaiy and of a surgeon. Burges 
says that it is an extract from the log of the Lawr- 
ence, that the entry in the log was made by Sailing- 
master W. V. Taylor within twenty-four hours after 
the action, and that the entry was copied in the diary 
on the day after the battle. None of the logs of 
Perry's ships are in the Navy Department at Wash- 
ington. Lossing in compiling his account of the 
battle used the log of the Lawrence {Pictorial Field- 
Book of the War of 181 2, 533)- 



4. EXTRACT FROM THE DIARY OF DR. 
USHER PARSONS 

Friday, September loth, Put-in Bay 

At 5 o'clock a.m. discovered the enemy's squad- 
ron bearing N.W. Wind S.W. At 7 could see all 
of the vessels viz. 2 ships, 2 brigs, i schooner, and i 
sloop. At 10 called all hands to quarters. At }^ 
before Meridn. the enemy commenced the action 
at I mile distance. In I/2 an hour we came within 
musket shot of the enemy's new ship Detroit. At 
this time they opened a most destructive fire on the 
Lawrence from their whole squadron. At ^ past 
one so entirely disabled we could work the brig no 
longer. At 2 p.m. most of the guns were dis- 
mounted breachings gone or carriages knocked to 
pieces. At ^ past 2 when not another gun could 
be worked or fired from the Lawrence, Capt. Perry 
hauled down the fighting flag^^ which bore this 
motto Dont give up the ship and repaired on board 
the Niagara, and there raised it again. In ten min- 
utes after we struck to the enemy. Cap't Perry 
made all sail with the Niagara which hitherto had 

22 This flag was made at Erie, Pennsylvania (Lossinp, Pictorial 
Field-Book of the JFar of 1812, 533). It is now at the United States 
Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. 

[57] 



58 DIARY OF DR. USHER PARSONS 



kept out of the action and in 15 minutes passed in 
among the B. squadron, having the Detroit, Queen 
Charlotte and Lady Prevot on the starboard side 
and the Hunter on the larboard side and silenced 
them all and 10 minutes before 3 they hauled down 
their colours. Two small vessels attempted to 
escape but being overhauled struck a few minutes 
after three. Killed on board the Lawrence, Lieut. 
John Brook,'' Midn. Henry Laub, James W. 
Allen, Jos. Kennedy, John C. Kelly, John Smith, 
Wm. Cranson, Andrew Michael, John Hoffman, 
Charles Pohig, Nelson Peters, James Jones, John 
Rose, James Carty, Thos. Butler, Wilson Mays, 
Christian Mayo, Charles Johnes, Eatheldras Sykes, 
and three others. 



23 Lieutenant John Brooks of the marine corps. He was a son of 
General John Brooks, governor of Massachusetts from 1816 to 1823. 
A cannon-ball severed his leg from the body at the hip, and he died 
two hours later. A letter of Perry, dated September 12, 1813, to the 
father announcing the death of the son will be found in the New Eng- 
land Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. xix, 194. 



V 

Letter of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 

TO 

Major-general Willl^^m Henry Harrison 

From a copy (probably of the original) formerly 
in the possession of Mr. William Keeney Bixby, of 
St. Louis. It has been published in part in Niles' 
Register, volume v, 6 1 (September 25, 1813). 



5. COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 

TO MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM 

HENRY HARRISON 

II. Sept., 1813 

Dr. Sir: I am this moment informed by Capt 
Horton'* that you have commenced your march- 
I have taken the liberty of requesting your officer, 
who was bound to Fort Meigs, to return with my 
despatches to you, and the government- and have 
promised to take the responsibility of his deviating 
from his orders, on myself- 1 hope my anxiety to 
communicate to you, intelligence of so much im- 
portance will be my excuse -We have a great num- 
ber of prisoners, which I wish to land- will you be 
so good, as to order a guard to receive them? and 
inform me of the placeP-Considerable numbers 
have been killed and wounded on both sides -from 
the best information, we have more prisoners, than 
we have men on board our vessels."^ 

In great haste, yours very respectfully 

O. H. Perry 



2* The records of the United States War Department show that 
Benjamin Horton and Benjamin Horton, Jr., of New Yoric; James 
Horton, of Maryland; and William Horton, of Georgia, served as 
captains in the War of 1812. 

25 According to Mr. Neeser's statistics of the battle {Statistical and 

[61] 



62 PERRY TO HARRISON 

Many of the prisoners are of opinion, that Genl. 
Proctor ^^ has commenced his retreat march -and 
that the Indians, after committing great excesses, 
have withdrawn. 



Chronological History of the United States Navy, vol. ii, 50-51), the 
men on board the prizes numbered 323, and on board the American 
squadron 485. There is however some variation in the figures given 
by different authorities. One hundred and twenty-three of Perry's men 
were unfit for duty (see Document 7), 

20 Major-general Henry Procter, commander of the British army 
on the Detroit line. 




William lll^R^ Harrison, iSi-s 



VI 

Letter of Commander Robert Heriot Barclay 

TO 

Sir James Yeo 

From the original in the British Public Record 
office, London, This letter has been frequently pub- 
lished, in whole or in part (See Niles' Register, vol- 
ume vi, 181-182; the Naval Chronicle, volume xxxi, 
250-253 ; and H. B. Dawson's Battles of the United 
States, volume ii, 289-290). Yeo was in command 
of the British naval forces on the lakes. 



6. COMMANDER ROBERT HERIOT BARCLAY 
TO COMMODORE SIR JAMES YEO 

His Majesty's Late Ship Detroit, Put-in Bay, 
Lake Erie 12th September, 1 8 13 

Sir: The last letter I had the honor of writing 
to you, dated the 6th instant, I informed you that 
unless certain intimation was received of more sea- 
men being on their way to Amhertsburg, I should 
be obliged to sail with the squadron deplorably 
manned as it was, to fight the enemy (who block- 
aded the port ) to enable us to get supplies of provi- 
sions and stores of every description, so perfectly 
destitute of provisions was the post that there was 
not a day's flour in store, and the crews of the 
squadron under my command were on half allow- 
ance of many things, and when that was done there 
was no more ; such were the motives which induced 
Major-general Proctor (whom, by your instruc- 
tions I was directed to consult, and whose wishes, I 
was enjoined to execute as far as relates to the good 
of the country) to concur in the necessity of a battle 
being risqued under the many disadvantages which 
I laboured, and it now remains for me, the most 
melancholy task to relate to you the unfortunate 
issue of that battle as well as the many untoward 
circumstances that led to that event. 

[67] 



68 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

No intelligence of seamen having arrived I 
sailed, on the 9th instant fully expecting to meet 
the enemy next morning, as they had been seen 
among the islands -nor was I mistaken, soon after 
day light they were seen in motion in Put-in-Bay, 
the wind then at south west, and light, giving us 
the weather gage; I bore up for them in' hopes of 
bringing them to action among the islands, but that 
intention was soon frustrated by the wind suddenly 
shifting to the south east, which brought the enemy 
directly to windward. 

The line was formed according to a given plan, 
so that each ship might be supported against the 
superior force of the two brigs opposed to them; 
about ten the enemy had cleared the Islands and 
immediately bore up, under easy sail, in a line 
abreast, each brig being also supported by the small 
vessels; at a quarter before twelve I commenced 
the action by firing a few long guns, about a quarter 
past the American commodore, also supported by 
two schooners, one carrying four long 12 pound- 
ers -the other a long thirty-two, and twenty-four 
pounder, came to close action with the Detroit- 
the other brig of the enemy apparently destined to 
engage the Queen Charlotte, supported in like 
manner by two schooners, kept so far to windward 
as to render the Queen Charlotte's 24 pounder car- 
ronades useless, while she was, with the Lady Pre- 
vost, exposed to the heavy and destructive fire of 
the Caledonia and four other schooners, armed 
with long and heavy guns, like those I have already 
described. 



BARCLAY TO YEO 69 

Too soon, alas, was I deprived of the services of 
the noble and intrepid Captain Finnis," who soon 
after the commencement of the action fell, and 
with him fell my greatest support. Soon after 
Lieutenant Stokoe of the Queen Charlotte was 
struck senseless by a splinter which deprived the 
country of his services at this very critical period. 
As I perceived the Detroit had enough to contend 
with, without the prospect of a fresh brig; Provin- 
cial Lieutenant Irvine*^ who then had charge of 
the Queen Charlotte behaved with great courage, 
but his experience was much too limited, to supply 
the place of such an officer as Captain Finnis, 
hence she proved of far less assistance than I ex- 
pected. 

The action continued with great fury until half 
past two, when I perceived my opponent drop 
astern, and a boat passing from him to the Niagara 
(which vessel was at this time perfectly fresh), the 
American commodore seeing that as yet the day 
was against him (his vessel having struck soon after 
he left her), and also the very defenceless state of 
the Detroit, which ship was now a perfect wreck 
principally from the raking fire of the gun boats, 
and also that the Queen Charlotte was in such a 
situation that I could receive very little assistance 
from her, and the Lady Prevost being at this time 
too far to leeward, from her rudder being injured, 

^'' For the full names of the officers killed and wounded, see Bar- 
clay's list at the end of this document. 

28 Second Lieutenant Robert Irvine, of the Canadian provincial 
marine. 



70 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

made a noble and, alas too successful an effort to 
regain it, for he bore up and supported by his small 
vessels, passed within pistol shot, and took a raking 
position on our bow, nor could I prevent it, as the 
unfortunate situation of the Queen Charlotte pre- 
vented us from wearing, in attempting it we fell on 
board her. My gallant first Lieutenant Garland 
was now mortally wounded, and myself so severely 
that I was obliged to quit the deck. 

Manned as the squadron was with not more than 
fifty British seamen, the rest a mixed crew of Cana- 
dians and soldiers, and who were totally unac- 
quainted with such service rendered the loss of 
officers more sensibly felt and never in any action 
was the loss more severe, every officer commanding 
vessels, and their seconds, was either killed, or 
wounded so severely as to be unable to keep the 
deck. 

Lieutenant Buchan in the Lady Prevost behaved 
most nobly, and did everything that a brave and 
experienced officer could do, in a vessel armed with 
12 pounder carronades, against vessels carrying 
long guns -I regret to state that he was very severe- 
ly wounded. Lieutenant Bignal (of the Dover), ^^ 
commanding the Hunter displayed the greatest in- 
trepidity, but his guns being small 2, 4, and 6 
pounders, he could be of much less service than he 
wished. 

Every officer in the Detroit behaved in the most 
exemplary manner. Lieutenant Inglis, shewed 
such calm intrepidity that I was fully convinced 

29 His Majesty's troop-ship Dover. Bigneil was detached from her 
at Quebec. ^ 



BARCLAY TO YEO 71 

that on leaving the deck I left the ship in excellent 
hands, and for an account of the battle after that, I 
refer you to his letter which he wrote me, for your 
information. 

Mr. Hofifmeister, purser of the Detroit, nobly 
volunteered his services on deck, and behaved in a 
manner that reflects the highest honor on him, I 
regret to add that, he is very severely wounded in 
the knee. 

Provincial Lieutenant Purvis^'' and the Military 
Officer Lieutenant Garden,'' of the Royal New- 
foundland Regiment and O'Keefe^- of the 41st 
Regiment, behaved in a manner which excited my 
warmest admiration: the few British seamen, I 
had, behaved with their usual intrepidity, and as 
long as I was on the deck the troops behaved with 
a calmness and courage, worthy of a more fortunate 
issue to their exertions. 

The weather gage gave the enemy a prodigious 
advantage as it enabled them, not only to choose 
their position, but their distance also, which they 
did in such a manner as to prevent the carronades 
of the Queen Charlotte, and Lady Prevost, from 
having much effect, while their long guns did great 
execution particularly against the Queen Char- 
lotte. 

Captain Parry has behaved in a most humane 
and attentive manner, not only to myself and offi- 
cers, but to all the wounded. 

3*^ First Lieutenant Francis Purvis of the Canadian provincial 
marine. 

2^ John Campbell Garden. 
s2 Arthur O'Keefe. 



72 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



I trust that, although unsuccessful, you will ap- 
prove of the motives that induced me to sail under 
so many disadvantages, and that it may be hereafter 
proved, that under such circumstances the honor of 
His Majesty's flag has not been tarnished. 

I enclose the list of killed and wounded. And 
have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient 
humble servant 

R. H. Barclay, Commander^ late Sen. Officer. 



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VII 

Letter of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 

TO 

Secretary of the Navy William Jones 

From American State Papers, Naval Affairs, vol- 
ume i, 295-297. The original of this letter is not 
in the United States Navy Department Archives, 
Washington. The letter has been frequently pub- 
lished (see, for instance, Niles' Register, volume v, 
61-62; James's Naval Occurrences, appendix, pages 
xc-xcii ; and H. B. Dawson's Battles of the United 
States, volume ii, 287-288). 



7- COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 

TO SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 

WILLIAM JOxNES 

U.S. Schooner Ariel,'* Put-in-Bay 
September 13th, 1813 

Sir: In my last'' I informed you that we had 
captured the enemy's fleet on this lake. I have 
now the honor to give you the most important par- 
ticulars of the action. 

On the morning of the loth instant, at sunrise, 
they were discovered from Put-in-Bay, where I lay 
at anchor with the squadron under my command. 
We got under way, the wind light at S.W., and 
stood for them. At ten a.m. the wind hauled to S.E. 
and brought us to windward; formed the line, and 
bore up. At fifteen minutes before twelve, the 
enemy commenced firing; at five minutes before 
twelve, the action commenced on our part. Find- 
ing their fire very destructive, owing to their long 
guns, and its being mostly directed at the Lawr- 
ence, I made sail, and directed the other vessels to 

34 Perry transferred his flag to the Ariel, on the morning of Sep- 
tember n. Both squadrons remained at anchor near the place of battle 
until about nine a.m. of that da}-, -when they sailed for Put-in-Bay, 
■where they arrived about noon (W. W. Dobbins's History of the Battle 
of Lake Erie, 60). 

35 See Document 2. 

[79] 



So BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

follow, for the purpose of closing with the enemy. 
Every brace and bowline being soon shot away, she 
became unmanageable, notwithstanding the great 
exertions of the sailing master. In this situation, 
she sustained the action upwards of two hours, 
within canister distance, until every gun was ren- 
dered useless, and the greater part of her crew 
either killed or wounded. Finding she could no 
longer annoy the enemy, I left her in charge of 
Lieutenant Yarnall,^^ who, I was convinced, from 
the bravery already displayed by him, would do 
what would comport with the honor of the flag. 
At half past two, the wind springing up. Captain 
Elliott was enabled to bring his vessel, the Nia- 
gara, gallantly into close action. I immediately 
went on board of her, when he anticipated my 
wishes, by volunteering to bring the schooners, 
which had been kept astern by the lightness of the 
wind, into closer action. It was with unspeakable 
pain that I saw, soon after I got on board the Nia- 
gara, the flag of the Lawrence come down ; although 
I was perfectly sensible that she had been defended 
to the last, and that, to have continued to make a 
show of resistance would have been a wanton sac- 

3*^ The names and titles of the officers mentioned by Perry in this 
letter are as follows: Lieutenant John J. Yarnall, Master-commandant 
Jesse Duncan Elliott, Acting Lieutenant Dulaney Forrest, Sailing-mas- 
ter William V. Taylor, Lieutenant (of marines) John Brooks, Mid- 
shipman Henry Laub, Midshipman John Clark, Purser Samuel Ham- 
bleton, Midshipman Thomas Claxton, Midshipman Augustus Swartout, 
Lieutenant Joseph E. Smith, Lieutenant John J. Edwards, Midshipman 
Nelson Webster, Captain Henry B. Brcvoort (of the army). Lieutenant 
Daniel Turner, Lieutenant John Packet, Sailing-master Stephen Champ- 
lin, and Purser Humphrey Magrath. 



PERRY TO JONES 8i 

rifice of the remains of her brave crew. But the 
enemy was not able to take possession of her, and 
circumstances soon permitted her flag again to be 
hoisted. At forty-five minutes past two the signal 
was made for "closer action." The Niagara being 
very little injured, I determined to pass through 
the enemy's line ; bore up, and passed ahead of their 
two ships and a brig, giving a raking fire to them, 
from the starboard guns, and to a large schooner 
and sloop from the larboard side, at half pistol shot 
distance. The smaller vessels, at this time, having 
got within grape and canister distance, under the 
direction of Captain Elliott, and keeping up a well 
directed fire, the two ships, a brig, and schooner, 
surrendered, a schooner and sloop making a vain 
attempt to escape. 

Those officers and men who were immediately 
under my observation, evinced the greatest gallant- 
ry; and I have no doubt that all others conducted 
themselves as became American officers and sea- 
men. 

Lieutenant Yarnell, first of the Lawrence, al- 
though several times wounded, refused to quit the 
deck. 

Midshipman Forrest (doing duty as lieutenant) 
and Sailing Master Taylor, were of great assistance 
to me. 

I have great pain in stating to you the death of 
Lieutenant Brooks of the marines, and Midship- 
man Laub, both of the Lawrence, and Midshipman 
John Clark, of the Scorpion; they were valuable 
and promising officers. 



S2 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

Mr. Hambleton, purser, who volunteered his 
services on deck, was severely wounded, late in the 
action; Midshipmen Claxton and Swartwout. of 
the Lawrence, were severelv wounded. 

On board the Niagara, Lieutenants Smith and 
Edwards, and Midshipman ^^>bster, (doing dutv 
as sailing master) behaved in a very handsome 
manner. 

Captain Brevoort. of the army, who acted as a 
volunteer, in the capacity of a marine officer, on 
board that vessel, is an excellent and brave officer, 
and with his musketrv did ^reat execution. 

Lieutenant Turner, commanding the Caledonia, 
brought that vessel into action in the must able man- 
ner, and is an officer that, in all situations, mav be 
relied on. 

The Ariel. Lieutenant Packet, and Scorpion, 
Sailing Master Champlin, were enabled to get 
early into action, and were of great service. 

Captain Elliott speaks in the highest terms of 
Mr. Magrath, purser, who had been despatched in 
a boat on service, previous to mv getting on board 
the Niagara; and being a seaman, since the action 
has rendered essential service in takins: charge of 
one of the prizes. 

Of Captain Elliott, already so well known to the 
government, it would almost be superfluous to 
speak. In this action he evinced his characteristic 
bravery and judgment; and, since the close of the 
action, has given me the most able and essential 
assistance. 



PERRY TO JONES 83 

I have the honor to enclose you a return of the 
killed and wounded, together with a statenient of 
the relative force of the squadrons. The captain 
and first lieutenant of the Queen Charlotte, and 
first lieutenant to the Detroit, were killed ; Captain 
Barclay, senior oflicer, and the commander of the 
Ladv Prevost, severelv wounded. The comman- 
ders of the Hunter and Chippeway, slightly 
wounded. 

Their loss in killed and wounded" I have not 
yet been able to ascertain; it must, however, have 
been very great. 

Very respectfully, I have the honor to be, sir, 
your most obedient servant, 

O. H. Perry 



^^ See Document 6, enclosure 2. 



[ENCLOSURE ''] LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED ON 
BOARD THE UNITED STATES' SQUADRON, UN- 
DER COMMAND OF O. H. PERRY, ESQ. IN THE 
ACTION OF loTH SEPTEMBER, 1813, VIZ: 

On board the Lawrence, killed 

John Brooks, lieutenant marines Joseph Kennedy, ditto 

Henry Laub, midshipman Charles Pohig, seaman 

Christopher Mayhew, quarter John Smith, seaman 

roaster William Cranston, ordinary sea- 
James W. Allen, seaman man 
John C. Kelly, private in the reg- Andrew Michael, seaman 

iroent John Hoffman, ordinary' seaman 

Nelson Peters, seaman James Brown, seaman 

James Jones, ditto Ethelred Sykes, landsman 

John Rose, ditto Philip Sharbley, corporal of ma- 
James Carty, sailmaker's mate rines 

Thom.as Butler, seaman Jesse Harland, private 

Wilson Mays, carpenter's mate Abner Williams, ditto 

On board the Lawrence, wounded 
John J. Yarnall, ist lieutenant, William Dawson, seaman, severely 

slightly Westerly Johnson, ordinary sea- 

Dulaney Forrest, 2d ditto, slightly man, severely 
William V. Taylor, saih'ng mas- Samuel Sp^nvood, ditto, severely 

ter, slightly Robert Hill, seaman, slightly 

Samuel Hambleton, purser, se- Francis Cummings, ordinary sea- 

verely man, severely 

23 These lists, it would seem, were enclosed with the letter. 

[ 84 ] 



PERRY TO JONES 85 



Thomas Claxton, midshipman, se- John E. Brown, quarter gunner, 

verely severely 

Augustus Swartwout, midship- William Johnson, boatswain's 

man, severely mate, severely 

Jonas Stone, carpenter, slightly James Helan, ditto, slightly 
William C. Keen, master at arms, George Cornell, carpenter's mate, 

slightly slightly 

Francis Mason, quarter master, Thomas Hammond, armorer, 

severely slightly 

John Newen, ditto, severely John Burnham, ditto, severely 

Joseph Lewis, ditto, severely John Burdeen, ditto, severely 

Ezekiel Fowler, ditto, slightly Andrew Mattison, ditto, severely 
Henry Schroeder, ordinary sea- Jeremiah Easterbrook, ordinary 

man, severely seaman, severely 

Benoni Price, seaman, severely Thomas Reed, ditto, severely 
Thomas Robinson, ditto, severely Charles Vandyke, ordinary sea- 
Peter Kinsley, ditto, severely man, severely 
Nathan Chapman, ditto, severely William Simpson, ditto, severely 
Thomas Hill, ordinary seaman, Jesse Williams, ditto, slightly 
severely James Hadley, ditto, slightly 
Barney M'Cain, ditto, severely James Bird, marine, severely 
William Thompson, seaman, se- William Burnett, ditto, severely 

verely William Baggs, ditto, severely 

George Varnum, ditto, severely David Christie, ditto, severely 
James Moses, ditto, severely Henry Vanpoole, ditto, severely 

William Roe, ditto, severely Thomas Tuff, landsman, severely 

Joseph Denning, ditto, severely Elijah Barlin, ditto, severely 
William Daring, ditto, severely John Adams, ditto, slightly 
John Clay, ditto, severely Charles Harrington, ditto, slightly 

Stephen Fairfield, ditto, severely William B. Perkins, ditto, slightly 
George Williams, ditto, severely Nathaniel Wade, boy, severely 
Lannon Huse, ditto, severely Newport Hazard, ditto, slightly 

James Waddington, ditto, severely 

On the morning of the action, the sick list of the 
Lawrence contained thirty-one unfit for duty. 



86 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



On boar J the Niagara, killed 
Peter Morell, seaman Isaac Hardy, ordinary seaman 

On board the Niagara, 'wounded 

John J. Edwards, lieutenant Henry Davidson, seaman 

John L. Cummings, midshipman John M. Strebeck, ordinary sea- 
Edward Martin, seaman (since man 

dead) John Freeman, ditto 

Charles Davidson, seaman James Sansford, seaman 

Daniel Bennet, ditto Thomas Wilson, ditto 

John Felton, boatswain's mate Sergeant Mason, marine 

William Davis, ordinary seaman Corporal Scott, ditto 

(since dead) Thomas Miller, ditto 

Joshua Trapnel, marine (since John Rumas, ditto 

dead) George McManomy, ditto 

Ronvell Hall, ordinary seaman George Scoffield, ditto 

George Piatt, seaman Samuel Cochran, ditto 
Elias Wiley, ordinary seaman 

On the morning of the action, the sick list of the Nia- 
gara contained twenty-eight unfit for duty. 

On board the Caledonia, wounded 

James Artus, slightly Isaac Perkins, slightly 

James Philips, slightly 

On board the Somers, wounded 
Charles Ordun Godfrey Bowman 

On board the Ariel, killed 
John WTiite, boatswain's mate 

Wounded 

William Sloss, ordinary seaman, John Lucas, landsman, slightly 
slightly Robert Wilson, seaman, slightly 



PERRY TO JONES 



87 



On board the Trippe, wounded 
Isaac Green, soldier, 26th regi- John Nailes, soldier, 17th regi- 
ment, badly ment, slightly 

On board the Porcupine 
None killed or wounded 

On board the Scorpion, killed 
John Clark, midshipman John Sylhamamer, landsman 

On board the Tigress 
None killed or wounded. 

Two days previous to the action, the sick lists of the 
small vessels contained the names of fifty-seven men 
unfit for service. 



Recapitulation 



Killed Wounded Total 



Lawrence, 

Niagara, 

Caledonia, 

Somers, 

Ariel, 

Trippe 

Porcupine, 

Scorpion, 

Tigress, 



22 
2 
O 
O 
I 

o 
o 

2 

o 

27 



61 

25 

3 
2 

3 
2 
o 
o 

o 

96 



83 

27 

3 
2 

4 
2 
o 
2 
o 

123 



S. Hambleton, Purser. 

O. H. Perry, Captain and Senior Officer. 



[ENCLOSURE 2] STATEMENT OF THE FORCE OF THE 

BRITISH SQUADRON 

Detroit, ship 19 guns, one on pivot, and two howitzers 

Queen Charlotte, ship 17 do. do. 

Lady Prevost, schooner 13 do. do. 

Hunter, brig 10 do. 

Little Belt, sloop 3 do. 

Chippewa, schooner i do. and two swivels 

63 guns 

Note -The Detroit is a new ship, very strongly built, 

and mounts long twenty-fours, eighteens, and twelves. 

Statement of the Force of the United States Squadron 



Lawrence, bng 


20 guns 


Niagara, brig 


20 do. 


Caledonia, brig 


3 do- 


Ariel, schooner 


4 do. 1 


Scorpion, schooner 


2 do. 


Somers, schooner 


2 do. 


Trippe, sloop 


I do. 


Tigress, schooner 


I do. 


Porcupine, schooner 


I do. 



(one burst early in action) 



54 guns 

The exact number of the enemy's force has not been 
ascertained, but I have good reason to believe that it 
exceeded ours by nearly one hundred men. 



[88] 



VIII 
Letter of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 

TO 

Secretary of the Navy William Jones 

From the United States Navy Department Ar- 
chives, Captains' Letters, 1813, volume vi, number 
41. 



8. COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 

TO SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 

WILLIAM JONES 

U.S. SCHR. Ariel, Put in Bay, 13th Septr., 1813. 

Sir: I have caused the prisoners taken on the 
loth inst. to be landed at Sandusky, and have re- 
quested Genl. Harrison to have them marched to 
Chilicothy,''^ and there wait until your pleasure 
shall be known respecting them. 

The Lawrence has been so entirely cut up, it is 
absolutely necessary, she should go into a safe har- 
bor. I have therefore directed Lt. Yarnall to pro- 
ceed to Erie in her, with the wounded of the fleet, 
and dismantle and get her over the bar, as soon as 
possible. It will probably be impossible to repair 
her this season in time to be of any service. I have 
to ask your directions as respects the disposal of the 
prizes, the two ships in a heavy sea this day, at 
anchor lost their masts, being much injured in the 
action. I shall haul them into the inner bay, at 
this place, and moor them for the present. The 
four other prizes, I shall fit out for the expedition 
against Maiden, and for transporting Genl. Har- 

•^9 Chillicothe, Ohio, then capital of the state, situated about one 
hundred miles east by north of Cincinnati. 

[91] 



92 PERRY TO JONES 

rison's troops. The Detroit is a remarkably fine 
ship, sails well and is very strongly built. The 
Queen Charlotte is a much superior vessel to what 
has been represented. The Lady Prevost, is a large 
fine schooner. 

I also beg your instructions respecting the woun- 
ded. I am satisfied, Sir, that whatever steps, I 
might take governed by humanity, would meet 
your approbation, under this impression, I have 
taken upon myself to promise Capt. Barclay who 
is very dangerously wounded that he shall be land- 
ed as near Lake Ontario as possible, and I had no 
doubt you would allow me to parole*" him, he is 
under the impression that nothing but leaving this 
part of the country, will save his life. There is 
also a number of Canadians among the prisoners, 
many who have families. 

I have the honor to be, Sir, 

very respectfully your obd. serv. 

O. H. Perry 



^0 See Documents 14 and 16. 



IX 

Letter of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 

TO 

Major- General William Henry Harrison 

From N lies' Register, volume v, 263. 



\ 



9. COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 

TO MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM 

HENRY HARRISON 

U.S. ScHR. Ariel, Sept. 15, 1813 

Sir: The very great assistance, in the action of 
the loth inst. derived from those men you were 
pleased to send on board the squadron, render it a 
duty to return you my sincere thanks for so timely a 
reinforcement." In fact, sir, I may say, without 
those men the victory could not have been achieved ; 
and equally to assure you, that those officers and 
men behaved as became good soldiers and seamen. 
Those who were under my immediate observation, 
evinced great ardor and bravery. Captain Bre- 
vort,*^ of the second regiment of infantry, serving 
on board the Niagara, I beg leave to recommend 
particularly to your notice: he is a brave and gal- 
lant officer, and as far as I am capable of judging 
an excellent one. I am convinced you will present 
the merit of this officer to the view of the honorable 
secretary of war, as I shall to the honorable secre- 
tary of the navy. 

Very respectfully, I am, sir, your obedient ser- 
vant, Oliver H. Perry 

*i The names of the officers and men serving with Perry will be 
found in the American State Papers, Naval Affairs, vol. i, 566-572. 
^2 Captain Henry B. Brevoort. 

[95] 



X 

Letter of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 

TO 

Secretary of the Navy William Jones 

From the United States Navy Department Ar- 
chives, Captains' Letters, 1813, volume vi, number 
65. 



10. COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 

TO SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 

WILLIAM JONES 

U.S. SCHOOR. Ariel, Put in Bay, Sepr. 17th, 1813 

Sir: I send by Mr. Forrest"^ the flags taken in 
the action of the loth inst. on Lake Erie. 

I have the honor to be, sir, your Obd. Servt. 

O. H. Perry 



43 Acting Lieutenant Dulaney Forrest. See page 45. 

[99] 



II. COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 

TO SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 

WILLIAM JONES 

U.S. Schooner Ariel, At anchor off Portage 
River" , i8th Septr., 1813 

Sir: Among the officers taken are a number 
who have large family's in Canada. ^^ I have di- 
rected that they be left near the lake, until your 
orders may be had respecting them. They are ex- 
tremely anxious to return home. 

Very respectfully, I have the honor to be, sir, 
your obd. sert. O. H. PERRY 



** The Portage River empties into Lake Erie a few miles to the 
westward of Sandusky Bay. 

'^^ For officers of the Canadian provincial marine, see L. Homfray 
Irving's Officers of the British Forces in Canada, 202-207. 

[ 103 ] 



'J. 



XII 

Letter of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 

TO 

Secretary of the Navy William Jones 

From the United States Navy Department Ar- 
chives, Captains' Letters, 1813, volume vi, number 
73. 




^.^^^^-^r^:?:^.,^ ^^:-^?^^?^y5 



<^ /// (y ^Txy^:a-<<^ /^ir-yzy 









'"fu. e,- 







j.^ ^9^^ ^^,^^ o^^-^.;C ^-^..^.7^^^: 



( 



Reduced facsimile of the Letter of Commodore Perry to 
Secretary of the Navy William Jones, September 20, 1813 

From the original manuscript in the United States Navy Department 
Archives, Washington, D.C. 



12. COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 

TO SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 

WILLIAM JONES 

U. S. SCHOOR. Ariel, Sepr. 20th, 1813 

off Portage River 

Sir: Still wishing to return to Rhode Island 
the moment my services can be spared from this 
lake I hope I may be honored with your permis- 
sion to that effect."® 

I beg leave, Sir, to call your attention again to 
the case of Capt. Barclay. I have taken upon my- 
self to promise him, his parole. In fact. Sir, in his 
situation I could not have refused him any thing- 
although I am sensible I ought to have waited for 
your orders -I trust. Sir, you will estimate the mo- 
tives which have governed me in this affair.*^ 

With great respect, I am, Sir, your obd. sert. 

O. H. Perry 



*^ See Documents i6 and 17. 
*^ See Documents 8, 14, and 16. 

[ 109] 



XIII 

Letter of Secretary of the Navy 
William Jones 

TO 

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 

From the United States Navy Department Ar- 
chives, Letters to Officers of Ships of War, volume 
xi, 93- 



13. SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WILLIAM 

JONES TO COMMODORE OLIVER 

HAZARD PERRY 

Naval Department [Washington, D. C] 

Septr. 2ist, 1813 

Sir: Rumour*^ had preceded and prepared the 
public mind for the enthusiastic reception of the 
glorious tidings, confirmed by your letter of the 
loth received and published in handbills this day. 

Every demonstration of joy and admiration, that 
a victory so transcendently brilliant, decisive, and 
important in its consequences, could excite, was ex- 
hibited as far and as fast as the roar of cannon and 
the splendour of illumination could travel. 

In the absence of the President I have no hesi- 
tation in anticipating his warmest admiration and 
thanks, in behalf of our country, for this splendid 
achievement, which must ever continue among the 
brightest honours of the nation. You will please 
accept, for yourself, an ample share, and communi- 
cate to the gallant officers, seamen, and others, un- 
der your command, the full measure of those senti- 
ments and feelings, which it is my duty to express, 
and my delight to cherish. 

*8 The first news of the battle reached Washington on September 18. 

[113] 



114 JONES TO PERRY 

Tomorrow, I trust, will bring the interesting de- 
tails, for which so many hearts are palpitating be- 
tween the laurel and the cypress. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

W. Jones 



114 JONES TO PERRY 



Tomorrow, I trust, will bring the interesting de- 
tails, for which so many hearts are palpitating be- 
tween the laurel and the cypress. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

W. Jones 



SLoiitJiJs^M 



filF. BRITISH 1 



of the capture of tlw vi: 

t'f:ni{V. !,ira of t! 



be pR'parcd ior ; 

formatbn.thejtov.,, , .,..;,,....,,,..„.„,., 

af joy expressed. Pre\ ious to the 

tlurrisf • ' ' 

of the; _ 

teraplated immodbtelyty t^e pbce, 

U. S. Brig Niagara, off the Western SistPp, tedl «l 
Ene, Sept. 10th, 18^3, 4 P. M. 

Deah Ge.verai., 

We have mtttlie enemy ; atwi thej' are our-, ■ i ■ 
sJiips, two brigs, one schooner ami oni? sloop. 
" Yours with great aspect aiid csterm. 

.■ O. H. PERIi\. 

Muj. Gen. Harrison. 

Si'ptemlH-r Ilth. 

Dc-ar Sir-— 'Wc have a preat nutnbcr of prisoners, \.hw\ 
i wisli to land: ' "" ' " ' 's 

to receive rhem ; ■•'' 

n\imbi k.ilkd and wmindcd > 

From i--^ .— ; '.nation, we luve more ] 

hwt iTjin on btKird our vessels. I» great h- 

troh-. O :: ■ ' ^\;i i ■ 

C'k:n. Harrison. 
Copy of a klter to the editor of the <"* 

, . . . ,,.,.i,.>.. Is-' V press post.' from < ■• 

pteinb<.T. 

" AK;tta:haS|i;stb«-na-ceivt;dbv the r,: > C.rv« 

land, dated " Lo«ct Senet^i, Sept. 'l3. «'.; '^.t}^ 

have just received an express from cc>mmod<a:« Pi>KUY 
stating his having token ■ ■ , , 

rht xvhole British Flet;t, more prisoners than he nad tnei 
on board, smd Two Brigadkr Genmih." 

The letter ftiriljcr htatcs— " Wc ^uiH embark for Malde: 
to-raorrowi'-" 



Facsimile of a Broadside announcing the Victory 
From the original in the collection of the New York Historical 

Society 



XIV 

Letter of Secretary of the Navy 
William Jones 

TO 

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 

From the United States Navy Department Ar- 
chives, Letters to Officers of Ships of War, volume 
xi, 94-95. 



14. SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WILLIAM 

JONES TO COMMODORE OLIVER 

HAZARD PERRY 

Navy Department, [Washington, D. C] 

Septr. 22nd, 1813 

Sir: Referring to my letter of yesterday, in an- 
swer to yours of the loth, I have now to acknowl- 
edge the receipt, this instant, of your two letters of 
of the 13th inst.,*' containing the details of the ac- 
tion, which terminated in the glorious victory of 
the loth -which, though sanguinary and destruc- 
tive, I am happy to find, has been less so, among 
our valuable officers, than I had apprehended. 

The commissary general of prisoners,'" who has 
the entire direction of that department, will im- 
mediately direct what is proper to be done in that 
respect, and I will venture to anticipate his appro- 
bation of your promise to admit Captain Barclay 
to his parole, and to extend, not only to him, but to 
the other wounded prisoners, all the humanity, 
which a generous enemy can bestow, and a benev- 
olent people approve. 

In respect to the disposition of the prizes, I can, 

49 See Documents 2, 7, 8, and 13. 

50 General John Mason. See Niles' Register, vol. v, 52-53. 

[119] 



I20 JONES TO PERRY 

at present, only observe, that you will employ such 
as may be in condition, in such way as the public 
service may require, on the contemplated military 
expedition; and place the remainder in safety, un- 
til future measures be adopted for their final dis- 
position. 

They will, of course, be regularly libelled and 
adjudicated, in some of one of the courts of the 
United States. 

The two ships, I presume, are too heavy to be got 
over the Bar of Erie; and I know not, if the inner 
Bay of Sandusky affords shelter sufficient, until 
another more secure and convenient can be found. 
Should the success of our arms place Maiden and 
Detroit River in our possession, this object would 
be obtained. 

I hope the military expedition may not detain 
the whole of your force so long as to defeat the in- 
tention of sending a part into Lake Huron, should 
we be so fortunate as to command the passes. 

Upon all these subjects, and in everything relat- 
ing to your command, you will communicate with, 
and receive the instructions of Commodore Chaun- 
cey, communicating to this department direct (in 
order to save time), as well as to Commodore 
Chauncey, whatever may appear to you of sufficient 
importance to the government. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

W. Jones 



XV 

Letter of Dr. Usher Parsons 

TO 

William Parsons 

From the Rhode Island Historical Society Pub- 
lications, new series, volume vii, 245-246. Parsons 
was a naval surgeon on board the flag-ship Lawrence. 
In 1852 he delivered a discourse before the Rhode 
Island Historical Society in which he made a com- 
plete statement of his recollections of the Battle of 
Lake Erie (Providence, 1853, 36 pages). The same 
views that he then expressed respecting Elliott he 
held a few days after the battle as may be seen from 
the letter here published. 



15. DR. USHER PARSONS TO WILLIAM 

PARSONS 

Off Lower Sandusky, near Put-In Bay, and near 
the head of Lake Erie on board Brig Lawrence 

Sept. 22d, 1813 

Dear Parents: Before the arrival of this, an 
account of our victorious engagement with the 
British squadron on this lake will reach you. I can 
only add a few particulars. Most of the action 
was supported by this vessel as you will be led to 
suppose when informed that out of one hundred 
fifty men (our ships crew), thirty-one of whom 
were sick previous to the action we had rising 
eighty" killed and wounded, among whom were 
nearly all our officers save the intrepid commander. 
On board all the others were about thirty killed 
and wounded. This vessel supported a destructive 
fire from the enemy's two ships on one side and a 
brig astern raking us for two hours, all within mus- 
ket shot, during which we so disabled the ships that 
when the commodore left this vessel to bring an- 
other into her assistance he succeeded in fifteen 
minutes in making all three strike. It may seem 
mysterious to one how some of the other vessels 

51 According to Perry's list, eighty-three (see Document 7). 

[ 123] 



124 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

could see us slaughtered in such a manner, but 
it is equally so to us. Nor can the commanders 
of some of them offer satisfactory reasons, for re- 
maining behind. Unfortunately for the wound- 
ed, the two surgeons had been confined for some 
days with fever and could render them but little 
assistance. It, however, has operated in my fa- 
vour, as I have had all the amputating to per- 
form and it affords me the greatest pleasure to 
reflect that in no case have I failed of the best 
success, this has impressed the commodore with 
so favourable an opinion toward me that I have 
not the least doubt of his rendering me assist- 
ance to a better situation. He is the first warm 
friend I have met with in the service, capable of 
assisting me. I am now on my way in the Lawrence 
for Erie, having all the sick and wounded on board 
and shall continue with them in the hospital 'til 
the most of them recover, and then intend to shape 
my course for Cape Home. Gen. Harrison was on 
board the Lawrence this morning, and his army 
was on an island within half a mile of the vessel, 
consisting of about seven thousand. Tomorrow 
they cross to Maiden" a distance of about eighteen 
miles. Since the loss of the British fleet the In- 
dians have deserted Detroit after burning the place 
and (as is reported) massacreing the inhabitants. I 
had some narrow escapes for my life; during the 
action five cannon balls passed through the room 
in which I was attending to the wounded. Two 

s^The movement of the army that culminated in the Battle of the 
Thames on October 5, 1813. 



USHER PARSONS TO WILLIAM PARSONS 125 

that I had dressed and laid aside were afterwards 
killed during the action. The enemy's squadron 
mounted more guns than ours and carried at least 
one fourth more men. In the course of a year I 
hope t6 obtain a little prize money. I have enjoyed 
very bad health during this cruise and am reduced 
to a skeleton, and will never cross this or any other 
lake again. 

I have lately received a letter from Dr. A. Hall 
Jr and one from Charlotte Parsons, dated August 
28th. 

Remember me to enquiring friends. Your affec- 
tionate son 

Usher Parsons 
Saml. is steady and well. 



XVI 

Letter of SecreTx\ry of the Navy 
William Jones 

TO 

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 

From the United States Navy Department Ar- 
chives, Letters to Officers of Ships of War, volume 
xi, 102-103. 



i6. SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WILLIAM 

JONES TO COMMODORE OLIVER 

HAZARD PERRY 

Navy Department [Washington, D.C.] 

Septr. 29th, 1 8 13 

Sir: The President has confirmed the senti- 
ments, which I anticipated, in my letter to you of 
the 2 1 St inst.^^ in a manner the most ample and ex- 
pressive. 

I have, by his direction, executed a commission'* 
promoting you to the rank of a captain in the navy 
of the United States, which I will forward to what- 
ever place you shall please to direct. 

I am, this morning, favoured with yours of the 
20th'' and, although there is much of importance 
yet to be done upon the Upper Lakes, which I 
should like you to bring to maturity, yet, if you 
think the service will not suffer by your absence, 
you are at liberty, as soon as the public interest 
shall admit of your departure, to proceed to Rhode 
Island and resume your command there, until a 
ship, suitable to your rank, shall be at the disposal 
of the department. 

53 See Document 13. 

5* Perry's commission was dated September 10, 1813. 

55 See Document 12. 

[ 129] 



/- 



I30 JONES TO PERRY 

In the event of your resigning the command of 
the Erie squadron, it will, of course, devolve on 
Captain Elliott, who will communicate with, and 
receive the instructions of Commodore Chauncey,^*" 
the commander-in-chief, who will be furnished 
with a copy of this letter. 

Capt. Elliott will communicate direct to this 
department (in order to save time), whatever may 
be of importance to be speedily known. 

The commissary general of prisoners has given 
the necessary directions, in relation to those cap- 
tured by you, and you will not parole any person, 
except Captain Barclay, without his special au- 
thority. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

W. Jones 



5" Commodore Isaac Chauncey, commander-in-chief of the American 
naval forces on the lakes. 



XVII 

Letter of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry 

TO 

Secretary of the Navy William Jones 

From the United States Navy Department Ar- 
chives, Captains' Letters, 1813, volume vii, num- 
ber 3. 



< 



17- COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 

TO SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 

WILLIAM JONES 

U.S. Schooner Ariel, Detroit, 1 6th October, 1813 

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the re- 
ceipt of your several letters of the 21st and 22nd 
ult." I beg you. Sir, to accept my thanks for the 
very flattering manner you are pleased to speak of 
the conduct of the officers and men belonging to 
the squadron under my command, in the action of 
the loth September. To possess the good opinion 
of the government is what we are all ambitious of, 
and I hope, and trust, the future exertions of all 
will be such as to merit, a continuance of that favor 
which has been so liberally bestowed in this in- 
stance. 

I should feel a delicacy in accepting the post 
captain's ^^ commission, which it has pleased the 
President to order to be sent me, if I did not con- 
sider the precedent long since established, by the 
appointment of Capt. Decatur over the heads of 
others.'^" Should I be wrong in this opinion, I re- 

s^ See Documents 13 and 14. 

^^ A term used interchangeably with "captain." 

^^ A reference to the promotion of Decatur, in 1804, over several 
officers senior to him in rank, as a reward for the destruction of the 
Philadelphia, in the harbor of Tripoli. 

[ 133] 



134 PERRY TO JONES 

quest, Sir, that the commission may be kept back 
until my right shall entitle me to that honor with- 
out passing over Capt. Leonard. ''° 

As long, Sir, as I can be of service here, I shall 
remain, with pleasure. 

Very respectfully, I have the honor to be, Sir, 

your obd. sert. 
O. H. Perry 



^'o Master-commandant James T. Leonard stood next above Perry 
at the head of the list of masters-commandant. In promoting Perry 
to be captain it was necessary to pass over Leonard. 



XVIII 

Court-Martial of Commander Robert 
Heriot Barclay, September, 1814 

From a manuscript copy In the United States 
Navy Department Library, Washington. This was 
obtained tor Rear-admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, 
U.S.N. , in 1903 or 1904. 



1 8. COURT-MARTIAL OF COMMANDER 
ROBERT HERIOT BARCLAY, SEP- 
TEMBER, 1814 

At a Court Martial assembled on board His 
Majesty's ship Gladiator in Portsmouth Harbour 
on the ninth day of September, 18 14, Present: 
Edward James Foote, Esquire, rear admiral of the White 
and second officer in the command of His Majesty's 
ships and vessels at Spithead and in Portsmouth Har- 
bour — President 
Captain Benjamin Willm. Captain Sir James Athol 

Page Wood, Knt. 

George Fowke David Lloyd 

Adam Drummond Edward Brace 

Zachariah Mudge Richard Byron ""^ 

Arthur Farquhar John Quilliam 

James Richard Dacres " George Francis Seymour 

Pursuant to an order from the Right Honorable 
Lords Commiss[ioners] of the Admiralty dated 
the eighth day of September, 1814, and directed to 
the President setting forth that Commodore Sir 
James Lucas Yeo,'' had transmitted to their Lord- 

61 Dacres was commander of the British frigate "Guerriere" when 
she was captured by the United States frigate "Constitution" in Au- 
gust, 1812. 

62 Byron was commander of the British frigate "Belvidera," when 
she made her escape from the squadron of Commodore John Rodgers 
in June, 1812. 

63 Commander-in-chief of the British naval forces on the lakes. 

[137] 



138 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

ships the copy of a letter which he had received 
from Robert Heriot Barclay, Esquire, commander 
of His Majesty's late ship Detroit and senior offi- 
cer commanding a squadron of His Majesty's ships 
and vessels in Lake Erie dated the 12th of Septem- 
ber, 1813, detailing the particular circumstances of 
the capture of the said squadron on Lake Erie by a 
squadron of ships and vessels of the United States 
of America on the loth of the same month. The 
court proceeded to enquire into the cause and cir- 
cumstances of the capture of His Majesty's late 
squadron and to try the said Captain Robert Heriot 
Barclay, his surviving officers and seamen late be- 
longing thereto, for their conduct on that occasion, 
and having heard the evidence produced and com- 
pleted the enquiry, and having maturely and delib- 
erately weighed and considered the whole, the 
court is of opinion that the capture of His Majes- 
ty's late squadron was caused by the very defective 
means Captain Barclay possessed to equip them on 
Lake Erie, the want of a sufficient number of able 
seamen whom he had repeatedly and earnestly re- 
quested to be sent to him, the very great superiority 
of the force of the enemy to the British squadron 
and the unfortunate early fall of the superior offi- 
cers in the action. That it appears that the greatest 
exertions had been made by Captain Barclay in 
equipping and getting into order, the vessels under 
his command. That he was fully justified under 
the existing circumstances in bringing the enemy 
to action. That the judgment and gallantry of 
Captain Barclay in taking his squadron into action 



COURT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY 139 

and during the contest were highly conspicuous 
and entitled him to the highest praise and that the 
whole of the other officers and men of His Majes- 
ty's late squadron conducted themselves in the most 
gallant manner and doth adjudge the said Captain 
Robert Heriot Barclay, his surviving officers and 
men to be most fully and most honourably acquit- 
ted and they are hereby most fully and most hon- 
ourably acquitted accordingly. 

Ed WD. J AS. FooTE J. A. Wood 

B. W. Page David Lloyd 

George Fowke E. Brace 

Adam Drummond R. Byron 

ZaCHARY MUDGE J. QUILLIAM 

Arthr. Farquhar G. F. Seymour 
Jas. R. Dacres 

Mr. GrEETHAM, Dy. Judge 
Advocate of the Fleet. 

Minutes taken at a Court Martial assembled on 
board His Majesty's ship Gladiator in Ports- 
mouth Harbour on the ninth day of September, 
1814. Present: 

Edward James Foote, Esquire, rear admiral of the White 
and second officer in the command of His Majesty's 
ships and vessels at Spithead and in Portsmouth Har- 
bour - President. 
Captains Benjm. Wm. Page Captains Sir Jas. Athol 

George Fowke Wood, Knt. 

Adam Drummond Edward Brace 

Zachariah Mudge Richd. Byron 

Arthur Farquhar John Quilliam 

Jas. Richd. Dacres Geoe.Fras. Seymour 

David Lloyd 



140 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

Captain Robert Heriot Barclay/* commander 
of His Majesty's late ship, Detroit, his surviving 
officers and seamen, were brought in and audience 
admitted. 

The order from the Right Honorable Lords 
Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated the eighth 
day of September, 1814 and directed to the Presi- 
dent, setting forth, that Commodore Sir James 
Lucas Yeo had transmitted to their Lordships the 
copy of a letter which he had received from Robert 
Heriot Barclay, Esquire, commander of His Maj- 
esty's late ship, Detroit, and senior officer com- 
manding a squadron of His Majesty's ships and 
vessel [sic] on Lake Erie, dated the 12th of Sep- 
tember, 1813, detailing the particular circumstances 
of the capture of the said squadron on Lake Erie 
by a squadron of ships and vessels of the United 
States of America on the loth of the same month, 
and to enquire into the cause and circumstances of 
the capture of His Majesty's late squadron, and to 
try the said Captain Robert Heriot Barclay, his 
surviving officers and seamen late belonging there- 
to, for their conduct on that occasion, was read. 

^* Barclay's appearance at his trial has been thus described by an 
eye witness: "It was not possible to see this brave officer before the 
court, and not be agitated with mingled feelings of regret and ad- 
miration, with one arm amputated, the other so dangerously wounded 
as to be suspended in bandages in a most particular position; a part 
of his thigh cut away by a cannon shot; and, with five other wounds, 
he presented, while the sentence was passing, an honourable instance 
of suffering heroism, and mental sensibility for he was affected at 
the testimony borne by the court to his conduct, almost to the shedding 
of tears." - Naval Chronicle, vol. xxxii, 243. 



CO URT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY 141 

The President reported to the court, that Cap- 
tains Peter Heywood and James Black'"' were ab- 
sent on Admiralty leave. 

The members of the court, and the judge advo- 
cate then in open court, and before they proceeded 
to trial respectively took the several oaths enjoined 
and directed in and by an Act of Parliament made 
and passed in the twenty-second year of the reign 
of His late Majesty, King George the second, en- 
titled, "An Act for amending, explaining, and re- 
ducing into one Act of Parliament the Laws re- 
lating to the Government of His Majesty's Ships, 
Vessels, and Forces by Sea." 

Then the said letter from the said Commodore 
Sir James Lucas Yeo and the copy of the letter 
from the said Captain Robert Heriot Barclay were 
read, and are hereto annexed.^*" 

To Captain Barclay: 

Q. Have you any further narrative to produce 
of the transactions respecting the loss of His Maj- 
esty's squadron on Lake Erie? 

Captain Barclay produced a narative" [_sic^^ 
which was read, and is hereto annexed. 

Captain Barclay being sworn, declared that the 
contents of the narrative that had been read to the 
court were correct and true to the best of his knowl- 
edge and belief. 

Q. Have you any complaint to make against 

85 Members of the court who did not attend its sittings. 
66 For the letter of Yeo, see Niles' Register, vol. vi, i8i; for the 
letter of Barclay, see Document 6. 

6^ See the latter part of this document, pages 152-165. 



142 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



any of the officers or crews of the squadron lately 
under your command on Lake Erie? 

A. None. 

To the Officers : 

Q. Have either of you any complaint to make 
against Captain Barclay respecting his conduct on 
the occasion? 

A. None whatever. 

Lieutenant Thomas Stokoe sworn. 

Q. Are the contents of the narrative of Cap- 
tain Barclay more particularly as to the scarcity of 
provisions at Lake Erie and the want of seamen on 
board the squadron correct and true as far as came 
within your knowledge and to the best of your be- 
lief? 

A. They are, we were particularly short of sea- 
men. 

Q. How many men had you on board the 
Queen Charlotte that you could call experienced 
seamen? 

A. Not more than ten with the petty officer. 
We had on board between one hundred and twenty 
and one hundred and thirty men, officers, and all 
together. 

Q. How many men had you on board that had 
been accustomed to work the great guns with a ship 
in motion? 

A. Only the men that came up from the Do- 
ver®^ three days before we sailed, we had sixteen of 

^8 His Majesty's trcop-ship at Quebec. 



COURT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY 143 

them, .boys included, from the Dover, the rest we 
learnt ourselves since our arrival on the Lake. 

Q. Do you know whether the other vessels 
that composed the squadron of Captain Barclay 
were equally deficient in seamen? 

A. All the other vessels were equally deficient 
in point of seamen, except the Detroit might have 
had a few more on account of being a larger vessel. 

Q. Were you a prisoner on board the Ameri- 
can vessels? 

A. No, I remained on board our own vessel six 
weeks after we were captured, I never was on board 
any of the enemy's vessels. 

Q. How many of those seamen of the British 
squadron were killed and wounded? 

A. One killed and four wounded of the able 
seamen on board the Queen Charlotte. 

Q. At half an allowance how many days pro- 
visions had you on board the Queen Charlotte 
when you went out? 

A. We might have had a weeks at half allow- 
ance of provisions, but not of spirits. They were 
preserved for the action, and all consumed on that 
day, we had none served out for several days be- 
fore. 

Q. Can you recollect the state of the Queen 
Charlotte just before you were wounded? 

A. Several shots had struck the vessel many of 
the ropes were cut away, but the vessel was then 
manageable, this was about an hour and a quarter 



144 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

after the commencement of the action. Captain 
Finnis**® and Lieutenant Garden of the Royal New- 
foundland Regiment were killed immediately on 
the commencement of the action, before a man was 
hurt. There were then one provincial lieutenant, 
one masters mate that had been in the navy, and 
two provincial midshipmen, quite youngsters, and 
two warrant officers, a boatswain and gunner left, 
this was after I was wounded. 

Q. At what distance did the Niagara engage 
the Queen Charlotte in the beginning of the action? 

A. She engaged us on the quarter out of car- 
ronade distance, with what long guns she had. 

Q. Was your principal injury received from 
her? 

A. No, from the Caledonia, who laid on our 
beam with two long twenty-four pounders on piv- 
ets, also out of carronade shot distance. 

Captain Barclay asked: 

Q. Had provincial Lieutenant Irvine experi- 
ence sufficient to such service, as to conduct the 
Queen Charlotte in action after the death of Cap- 
tain Finnis, and your own wound? 

A, He was a very brave young man, a perfect 
seaman, but not experienced as an officer. 

Provincial Lieutenant Francis Purvis, late of 
His Majesty's ship Detroit, called in and sworn. 

Q. Are the contents of the narrative of Cap- 
tain Barclay more particularly as to the scarcity of 
provisions at Lake Erie and the want of seamen on 

^3 For the full names of the officers here mentioned, see Document 6. 



COURT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY 145 



board the squadron correct and true as far as came 
within your knowledge and to the best of your be- 
lief? 

A. Yes, they are. 

Q. How many experienced seamen had you on 
board the Detroit when the action commenced? 

A. To the best of my knowledge not more than 
ten, petty officers included. 

Q. How long had the Detroit been in action 
when Captain Barclay unfortunately received his 
wound? 

A. About two hours and a half to the best of 
my recollection. 

Q. Was every exertion made to defend the 
ship after Captain Barclay was wounded? 

A. Yes. 

Q. Was she at that time in a very disabled and 
unmanageable state? 

A. Very much so indeed. 

Q. Can you recollect how many of those ten 
seamen were killed and wounded? 

A. To the best of my recollection seven or 
eight were killed or wounded. 

Q. How near were the enemy to you during 
the early part of the engagement? 

A. I should suppose in the early part of the en- 
gagement the Detroit in engaging the Lawrence 
was within a musquet shot and within pistol shot of 
the Niagara, the latter came down after the Lawr- 
ence had struck. 

Q. Did you observe any of the shots of the en- 



146 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

emy's ship to reach the British squadron when the 
latters guns did not reach them? 

A. I cannot say exactly that I did, being em- 
ployed at my gun. 

Q. Why did you not take possession of the 
Lawrence when she struck? 

A. We had only one boat and that was cut to 
pieces and the Niagara, another large brig, being 
to windward, came down too quickly upon us. 

Q. What do you atribute the loss of the action 
principally to? 

A. To the loss of Captain Finnis and the 
Queen's running up under our lee and the Detroits 
falling on board of them which permitted the ene- 
my's squadron to lay and rake us and the men con- 
sequently got into confusion. 

Q. Did the enemy's gun boats do you much 
damage? 

A. More than any of their vessels, they had 
long two and thirties. 

Q. Did you understand that the enemys vessels 
were well manned? 

A. Yes, they were remarkably well manned,^" 
I believe from the information I received from the 
American officers that the Lawrence had more able 
seamen on board than we had in our whole squad- 
ron, I was on board the Lawrence about a quarter 
of an hour and on board the Niagara two or three 

^•^ An exaggeration. The British officers were naturally disposed 
to make out as good a case as possible for their commander. 



COURT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY 147 

days, she appeared to be very well manned. They 
chiefly manned the prizes from her. 

Q. Was the Queen Charlotte in a manageable 
state immediately before she got on board the De- 
troit? 

A. She did not appear so, they did not back any 
of their sails to avoid her. 

Q. What was the force of the American brig? 

A. The Lawrence and Niagara had each eigh- 
teen thirty-two pound carronades, and two long 
twelves. The Caledonia two long twenty-four and 
one thirty-two or twenty-four pound carronades, 
the Tigress one long thirty-two. I was not on board 
the Ariel, Summers, Porcupine, Scorpion or Trip, 
but I understood they had all long thirty-two pound 
and one or two had carronades, I believe. 

Q. Did they appear to be manned equal to the 
larger brigs? 

A. Yes they did in equal Proportions. 

lb. 
The Detroit had 2-24' 

1-18 
6-12 

8-9J 

1-24 carronade 
1-18 do. 
The Queen Charlotte 3-12 long guns 

14-24 carronade 
The Lady Prevost 3- 9 long guns 

10-12 carronade 



long guns 



148 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



The Hunter 


2- 6~ 




4- 4 


' long guns 




2- 2- 






2-12 carronade 


The Little Belt 


I- 9 long guns 




I- 6 


The Chippeway 


I- 9 


long gun^^ 



Captain Barclay asked: 

Q. Did I cause the men to be exercised at their 
guns not only in my own ship but in the rest of the 
squadron to train them as much as possible to the 
use of the guns? 

A. Twice a day from the time he arrived when 
weather permitted from an hour and a half to two 
hours each time and Captain Barclay came for- 
ward and saw that they were properly exercised. 

Q. Were they exercised with powder? 

A. Yes, they were occasionally. 

Q. Were they exercised with powder as often 
as the reduced state of the ammunition at Amherst- 
burg the only place from whence I could get a sup- 
ply would allow? 

A. Yes, they were, but not to occasion a waste 
of powder. 

Q. Did I exert every means in my power not 
only to render the Detroit an effective ship in ev- 
ery way as well as that of the other vessels? 

A. He did every thing that a brave and experi- 
enced officer possibly could do not only in fitting 

^1 These figures agree with those of Barclay in his official letter, 
except in the case of the Little Belt. See Document 6. 




RoBHRT Heriot Barclay, R.N. 



COURT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY 151 

out the ships, but in speaking to and encouraging 
the men when we came into action which appeared 
to me to give the men the greatest confidence. 

Q. Was I obliged to take from the equipments 
of the Queen Charlotte sails and other articles to 
render the Detroit at all fit to take the lake? 

A. Yes. 

Q. When I first saw the enemy clear of the 
islands did I bear up and make as much sail as en- 
abled the rest of the squadron to keep up with me 
that I might speedily bring them into action? 

A. Yes. 

Q. Did I in the disabled state of the Detroit 
when assailed by a fresh force display an undimin- 
ished courage and give every encouragement to 
the crew? 

A. You did everything that an officer possibly 
could do. 

Q. Were the matches and tubes so bad that 
were supplied to me from Amherstburg that I was 
obliged to prime without the latter and fire pistols 
at the guns to set them off? 

A. Yes, we fired pistols at the guns to set them 
off during the whole of the action. 

Lieutenant Stokoe called in again. 
Captain Barclay asked: 

Q. Did I cause the men to be exercised at their 
guns not only in my own ship but in the rest of the 
squadron to train them as much as possible to the 
use of the guns? 

A. Yes, he did, he gave a general order out that 



152 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

they should be exercised twice a day, an hour each 
time, to the best of my recollection -sometimes 
they were exercised with powder, but it was not 
often they could be exercised with powder, as there 
was not sufficient to do it. 

Q. Was I obliged to take from the Queen 
Charlotte stores of various descriptions even to 
sails, cables and anchors as well as a proportion of 
pistols to fire the guns off with, before I could make 
the Detroit at all fit for the lake? 

A. Yes, you were. 

Mr. George Peter Martin Young, surgeon of 
His Majesty's late ship, Detroit, called in and 
sworn. 

The court asked: 

Q. Are the contents of the narrative of Captain 
Barclay more particularly as to the scarcity of pro- 
visions at Lake Erie and the want of seamen on 
board the squadron correct and true as far as came 
within your knowledge and to the best of your be- 
lief? 

A. They are. 1 

Q. Were the killed and wounded composed in 
a great measure of the better seamen? 

A. There were a great proportion of the sea- 
men in the list in comparison with the other men. 

O. Were many of the men you had from the 
Dover among them? 

A. I cannot recollect. 

Q. Do you think the ships were defended to 
the last? 



COURT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY 153 



A. As far as I am able to judge they were. 

Captain Barclay asked: 

Q. Did I on my being brought below from my 
first wound remain longer than until I could crawl 
up again? 

A. Certainly not- the first wound was in the 
thigh. 

Q. How long was it between my returning to 
the deck and my being brought below the second 
time totally disabled? 

A. About an hour, or an hour and a half. 

The court was cleared, and agreed, that the cap- 
ture of His Majesty's late squadron was caused by 
the very defective means Captain Barclay possessed 
to equip them on Lake Erie, the want of a suffi- 
cient number of able seamen, whom he had re- 
peatedly and earnestly requested to be sent to him, 
the very great superiority" of the force of the en- 
emy to the British squadron, and the unfortunate 
early fall of the superior officers in the action. That 
it appeared that the greatest exertions had been 
made by Captain Barclay in equipping and getting 
into order the vessels under his command. That 
he was fully justified under the existing circum- 
stances in bringing the enemy to action. That the 
judgment and gallantry of Captain Barclay, in 

7- Respecting the superiority of Perry's fleet, see Alfred Thayer 
Mahan's Sea Poiver in Relation to the War of 1812, vol. ii, 77-78. 
Mahan says: "It is evident if Perry's plan was carried out, opposing 
vessel to vessel, the Americans would have a superiority of fifty per 
cent." Perry's plan, however, was not carried out, and the British 
flag-ship was much superior in long guns to the American. 



154 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

taking his squadron into action and during the con- 
test were highly conspicuous and entitled him to 
the highest praise, and that the whole of the other 
officers and men of His Majesty's late squadron 
conducted themselves in the most gallant manner. 
And did adjudge the said Captain Robert Heriot 
Barclay his surviving officers and men to be most 
fully and most honourably acquitted. 

The court was again opened. Captain Barclay 
and his surviving officers brought in, audience ad- 
mitted and sentence passed accordingly. 

Mr. Greetham, Depy. Judge 
Advocate of the Fleet. 



NARRATIVE OF THE PROCEEDINGS DURING 

THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN BARCLAY 

OF HIS MAJESTY'S SQUADRON 

ON LAKE ERIE 

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Court : 
On my arrival at Bermuda in Feby., 1813, Sir 
John Borlaise [sic] Warren" received an applica- 
tion from Sir George Prevost'* to send some cap- 
tains, lieutenants and seamen to man three corvettes 
on Lake Ontario. 

I was sent with Captains Finnis and Pring/' six 
lieutenants, and gunners to Halifax for the pur- 
pose of proceeding with as much expedition as 
possible to Quebec and from thence to the Lake 
Ontario. 

On my arrival at Kingston on the lake'"* I took 
command of the corvette No. i, then called the 
Wolfe, by appointment from Sir John B. Warren, 
about three weeks after my taking the command I 
was superseded by the arrival of Sir James Lucas 
Yeo, with a large detachment of officers and sea- 
men from England, and appointed by that officer 

■^3 Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, commander-in-chief of the 
British naval forces on the North Atlantic station. 

"4 Governor-general of Canada and commander-in-chief of the 
British army. 

"3 Commander Daniel Pring. He commanded the brig Linnet at 
the Battle of Lake Champlain, September ii, 1814. 

"^ Lake Ontario. 

[155] 



• 



« 



156 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

to the superintendence of the gun boats for the time 
being. Soon after my appointment to the gun boats 
it was judged necessary to send a naval establish- 
ment to Lake Erie to render the squadron on that 
lake effective, which it was not considered to be 
under the provincial marine. 

This command was offered to Captain Mulcas- 
ter" the next in command to Sir James Yeo, who 
to my personal knowledge, declined it in conse- 
quence of its ineffective state and Sir James Yeo 
refusing to send seamen. 

On Captain Mulcaster's declining, I was or- 
dered to proceed to that lake with three lieutenants, 
one surgeon, and purser, a master's mate, and nine- 
teen men, twelve of these were Canadians, who had 
been discharged from his own squadron on Lake 
Ontario. The others were the most worthless char- 
acters that came from England with him, which 
can be proved by the evidence present, and were 
sent on board a small coasting sloop, armed, only 
with a few muskets to proceed to York^^ on our 
way to Lake Erie. On our arrival at that place 
from the bad state of health of the master's mate 
(which had been reported by me to Sir James 
Yeo), I was obliged on a representation of the sur- 
geon to send him back in the sloop. From York I 
proceeded with about two hundred soldiers in Bat- 
teaux's to join General Vincent^'' at Fort George^" 

^■^ Commander Sir William Howe Mulcaster. 

'^^ Near the western end of Lake Ontario, and on the northern shore. 
■^^Brigadier-general John Vincent, commander of the British army 
on the Niagara line. 

80 In Ontario, Canada, near the mouth of the Niagara River. 



COURT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY i57 



which was the nearest road to Amherstberg"' 
where I was to take command of the naval force 
on Lake Erie. While proceeding to join General 
Vincent I heard he was driven from Fort George 
and I met him on his retreat.'' From the general 
I learned he had sent the Queen Charlotte to Am- 
herstberg to prevent her falling into the enemy's 
hands at Fort Erie. No alternative was now left 
but to proceed to Amherstberg by land from 
which we were then three hundred miles. 

On my way to that place I learned that two ves- 
sels were at Long Point,'' I immediately proceeded 
there with the naval detachment I had brought 
with me from Lake Ontario, having left the two 
hundred soldiers with General Vincent. On arriv- 
ing at Long Point, I found the Lady Prevost and 
Chippewa schooners. In the former I embarked 
the men to proceed to Amherstberg, leaving the 
other to convoy a transport with flour to that place, 
for even then the garrison of Amherstberg was 
obliged to be supplied with provisions from that 
depot. At Long Point I addressed a letter to Sir 
James Yeo, detailing my proceedings since I left 
him and stating to him what I found to be the state 
of the two schooners at Long Point and what I 
understood to be the state of the remaining force. 
I proceeded in the Lady Prevost intending to 

81 British naval station on the Detroit River. 

82 Retreat, on May 27-29, 1813, of General Vincent's army from 
Fort George. 

83 A naval station on the Canadian coast of Lake Erie, opposite 
Erie, Pennsylvania. 



158 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

reconnoitre the enemies force in Presque Isle** 
which I could not accomplish from variable winds ; 
and being anxious to join the naval force at Am- 
herstberg I lost no time in going to that place. I 
found on my arrival there that the information I 
had received relative to the state of the naval es- 
tablishment placed under my orders was but too 
true and I wrote immediately to Sir James Yeo 
requesting a reenforcement of seamen without loss 
of time and stated to him in that letter the quali- 
ties and condition of the squadron. 

As soon as I could prepare for sea, I sailed in 
the Queen Charlotte to reconnoitre Presque Isle 
with the additional reason, of information having 
been just received that reenforcements for the en- 
emies army under General Harrison were coming 
from that port by the lake. This information 
proved to be unfounded and I proceeded accord- 
ing to my first intention of looking into that port 
and found the enemies force far advanced, for the 
particulars I refer the court to letter, no. 7 -in 
which they will find I not only proposed a com- 
bined attack on that place but still urged the neces- 
sity of being immediately reenforced by seamen to 
prevent the enemy having the superiority on the 
lake. The court will find also by that letter that 
Sir James Yeo sent me a captain ^^ with his servant 
no one else. And I beg leave to state to the court 
that this letter called forth a reprimand from the 

^* Erie, Pennsylvania. 

s^ Commander Robert A. Finnis. 



COURT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY 159 



commodore which he stated as being much too 
peremptory from a junior to an officer so much 
higher in rank. To give time for the arrival of 
seamen and troops for the above desirable purpose, 
I cruised between Black Rock'' and Presque Isle 
to intercept the brig and schooners which were 
coming from that place to join the enemies force 
at Presque Isle; but I was unfortunate and missed 
them in a fog, being obliged to return to Long 
Point for provisions and to receive such answers to 
the communications as I had made to Sir James 
Yeo and General Vincent. After I had waited in 
vain for seamen or even any letter subsequent to 
the arrival of Captain Finnis except one from 
Lieut. Col. Harvey,'' I thought it more pru- 
dent to fill His Majestys vessels with provisions 
as well as a transport schooner that I had brought 
for that purpose and return to Amherstberg to pre- 
pare the boats of various kinds for our intended 
expedition and to relieve the wants of the army in 
flour, which I did, and found the Detroit still in a 
very backward state, not near ready for launching, 
the materials for building nearly exhausted and 
without one gleam of hope that the prospect could 
brighten, except by an assurance from General 
Vincent that a force would be sent to cooperate 
with me on our intended attack on Presque Isle, 
and even then we had to wait the arrival of the small 
vessels from Lake Huron to transport the necessary 

86 Near Buffalo, New York. 

87 Lieutenant-colonel John Harvey. 



i6o BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

artillery and troops. When these vessels did ar- 
rive, still under the impression that aid would be 
afforded to enable Major General Proctor** and 
myself to make the joint attack, every thing was 
prepared even the artillery embarked when I was 
shewn a letter from the deputy adjutant general, 
which stated that no assistance could be sent from 
the army under Major General De Rottenberg*^ 
(who had superceeded General Vincent) which en- 
tirely put and [sic] end to our hopes in that way. 
I therefore represented the case to Commodore 
Sir James Yeo ; equipped my squadron as well as 
I could and sailed not only to prevent the enemies 
squadron from coming over the bar but to be near- 
er Lake Ontario from whence I still fondly looked 
for reenforcements. On my arrival at Long Point 
and the failure of getting men from both parties I 
thought my situation as well as that of the country 
so critical that I wrote to His Excellency Sir 
George Prevost (lest Sir James Yeo should be in 
the Lake) to point out the great necessity of taking 
this Lake into his serious consideration as on it de- 
pended the very existance of the army under the 
command of General Proctor, to which letter I beg 
leave to refer the court. Disappointed as I was 
not only by the non arrival of the seamen but by 
the generals declining to send troops to destroy 

88 Major-general Henry Procter, commander of the British army 
on the Detroit line. 

89 Major-general Francis Baron de Rottenburg, president, admin- 
istering the government of Upper Canada. In July, 1813, he suc- 
ceeded Vincent as commander of the British army on the Niagara line. 



COURT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY i6i 



Presque Isle -I sailed again to reconnoitre that 
place, determined to attack any part of the enemies 
force that might be over the bar -the particulars 
of which I again refer the court (to the Letter Book 
no. lo) which was sent by an officer, when it will 
appear that I again urged the absolute necessity of 
being reenforced as I feared the event would prove 
fatal. To this important letter I only received a 
verbal answer from Sir James Yeo that he could 
not send me any seamen. This I state in refutation 
of the charge against me in which he says that I 
only allowed him three days to send men three 
hundred miles. I cruized there still hoping that I 
should at length be reenforced, blockadeing the 
Portof Presque Isle as closely as I could untill I, one 
morning, saw the whole of the enemies force over 
the bar and in a most formidable state of prepara- 
tion.'" I wrote immediately to Sir James Yeo, let- 
ter no. 15 and made an appearance to the enemy 
of returning to Long Point, but soon after losing 
sight of them I bore up for Amherstberg. I was 
happy to find on my arrival that General Proctor 
had returned from the expedition against Sanddus- 
ky and my whole attention was now turned on the 
equippment of the Detroit being fully aware of the 
speedy approach of the enemys squadron and the 
necessity of at least making a shew to prevent their 
taking advantage of their superiority and assailing 
us by land and lake together. It will appear by 

90 Barclay does not enter into details at this point. He was at 
fault in failing to maintain a close blockade of Perry's fleet at Erie. 



i62 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

letter no. 21 to Sir James Yeo that my fears were 
realized as the enemies force had chaced my look- 
out vessel and by letter 25 that they had made their 
appearance off Amherstberg. 

On my arrival at Amherstberg I sent a small 
schooner to cruize to the eastward of the islands to 
apprize me of the approach of the enemys squad- 
ron and was soon satisfied that my apprehensions 
of their following me up were but too well found- 
ed as the court will see by referring to my letter to 
the commodore on the subject. They did not ap- 
pear oft" this port untill the 24th and I apprized him 
of it again by my letter, no. 25, bearing date the 
25th August. By this time our necessities were be- 
coming very urgent and our supplies by the lake 
entirely cut off. No possibility of obtaining an 
adequate supply by land for the numerous people 
we had to feed. Every attention was turned to the 
naval force which the country now looked up to, 
as the only defence. I now understood that about 
fifty seamen with two lieutts. and one midshipman 
were on their way from Kingston, not from Com- 
modore Sir James Yeo, but from Sir George Pre- 
vost through General Proctor, to whom I had pre- 
viously applied, finding all applications to Sir 
James Yeo useless. Anxiously indeed did all look 
forward for their arrival, few as they were, at 
length on the 5th of September, they did arrive 
but instead of fifty far short of three hundred the 
number I hoped to receive, they counted only thir- 
ty-six with two lieutts., one masters mate and two 



COURT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY 163 

gunners being the first division that left H.M. 
troopship Dover at Quebec. 

When that division left Quebec there was no 
idea of any more coming and the letter I received, 
by Lieut. BignaP^ ( Lieut, of the above troopship) 
told me that when Sir James Yeo understood that 
the remainder had come to Kingston he would for- 
ward the like number from the squadron. Sir 
James in this communication seems to have entirely 
disbelieved the many representations of our ap- 
proaching necessities, when he writes so coolly 
about sending men by the mode he proposes. The 
remainder of the Dovers seamen did not arrive at 
Kingston a distance inland from Amherstberg of 
six hundred miles untill after the action. The en- 
emy were in superior force between him and 
Kingston so as to preclude the possibility of a water 
communication and it must have taken at least six 
days to communicate with him by land -twelve 
more must have elapsed before men could reach 
Amherstberg and at most it was but a faint hope 
that they would come at all. 

The court will now allow me to revert to our 
actual state at this time. There were above four- 
teen thousand Indians to victual who had come 
from distant countries, accustomed to every indul- 
gence, and prone to quarrel and turn their arms 
against their friends as well as foes if their wants 
were not supplied and liberally too. To this num- 
ber was to be added the whole population of that 

91 Lieutenant George Bignell. 



i64 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



part of the country and the regular force attached 
to General Proctor. To the want of provisions 
must be added the other privation, of every kind 
of military and naval stores, therefore, it was to be 
considered that each succeding day added to our 
difficulties, and I must beg the courts attention to 
this circumstance. They were not difficulties that 
could be surmounted as will appear by a reference 
to a letter from Deputy Comy. General Gilmour^'^ 
dated 5th Sepr., 18 13 to Depy. Comy. Genl. 
Couche^^ and also by his letter to me dated Mon- 
treal, 7 June, 1814 (no. 21 ). I felt the necessity 
of this document and therefore applied to him for 
it, having lost all my official communications on the 
subject. One more trial was made to remain until 
seamen might arrive; at least until we might have 
a certainty of their being on the way, that failing, 
only two alternatives remained either to join in the 
retreat of the army after ingloriously burning my 
vessels, or risk and [sic] action notwithstanding the 
deplorable manner in which the squadron was 
manned and if the country was to fall it should not 
be without an effort on my part to prevent it. Un- 
der such circumstances what officer could hesitate 
a moment which measure he should adopt. I there- 
fore instantly decided on that which appeared the 
most honorable and determined to risk everything 
rather than abandon my post without a struggle, 

^2 There was an assistant commissary in Canada named Richard 
Gilmore. 

^3 Edward Couche. 



COURT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY 165 

and I was confirmed in this resolution by General 
Proctor's concurrence as express'd in his letter of 
the 8th Sept. here produced, and the court will 
perceive by extracts from letters from Sir George 
Prevost that in risking an action at this critical pe- 
riod, I only anticipated the express orders of His 
Excellency who in a letter to General Proctor, 
dated the i8th Sept., sayd "that the squadron on 
Lake Erie being inevitably involved in the com- 
mon fate of the military portion on Lake Erie is to 
be devoted to their preservation and if necessary 
sacrificed to the last atom sooner than a vestage be 
left to swell the pride of an arrogant foe." 

Having in my statement endeavoured to point 
out the numerous and accumulating difficulties that 
I laboured under in conjunction with the army un- 
der Major General Proctor, I trust I have demon- 
strated the necessity of the squadrons departure 
from Amherstberg. It is unnecessary for me to 
make any observations on the result of the action 
as my official letter to Sir James Yeo on the subject 
is now before the court, but I trust I may be per- 
mitted to make a few remarks on Sir James Yeo's 
letter and first on that paragraph v>^herein he seems 
to doubt the existance of any scarcity that could 
justify my risking an action. In answer to which 
I submit that if the deputy comy. general of an 
army with such ample means as he had at his dis- 
posal was unable to procure anything like an ade- 
quate supply for the troops, can any one doubt the 
actual scarcity? That it did exist in an insurmount- 



i66 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

able degree is evident from the commissarys letters 
before referred to. I must next beg leave to point 
out the striking difference between Sir James Yeo's 
first letter to Sir J. Warren and his second, written 
after receiving my official account of the action, a 
copy of which letter I beg leave to produce no. 
[sic] which if I may judge from that circumstance 
he must have felt conscious that he had neglected 
to send me reenforcements untill it was too late. 
My repeated requests to him for this assistance may 
have irritated him and to save himself from censure 
he has endeavoured to through obliquay [sic] 
on me. His observation "that I appeared to have 
sailed under the conviction that I had everything 
to gain and but little to lose" altho most true in the 
first part in one sense is evidently meant from the 
general tenor of the letter to bear another construc- 
tion. I certainly had much to gain, no less than 
rescuing the squadron under my orders from im- 
pending distructions, saving General Proctors di- 
vision of the army and preventing the fall of a 
country of immense extent and consequence to His 
Majesty's dominions in North America, and these 
were the only considerations that influenced my 
conduct. That I had little to lose I never can ad- 
mit as I had not only my own character as an offi- 
cer to support but also to uphold the honor of the 
British navy which on this occasion I felt was 
committed to my charge and had I not risked and 
[sic] action the whole disgrace of the retreat of the 
army would have attached to me, and I should 



COURT-MARTIAL OF BARCLAY 167 



have been justly involved in the shocking imputa- 
tion of cowardice. And what did Sir James Yeo 
give me to enable me to gain so great an object? 
In the first place nineteen of the worst men of his 
squadron which I took with me on assuming the 
command, subsequently allowing thirty-six men 
with two lieuts., one masters mate and Uvo gunners 
whom I had procured by urgent solicitation to Sir 
Geo. Prevost to pass him to join me at so late a pe- 
riod that even this trivial reenforcement only 
reached me three days previous to the action. 

The letters before the court wherein I so repeat- 
edly urged the necessity of a body [of] seamen 
even from the moment of my assuming the com- 
mand will I trust sufficiently refute the insinuation 
of Sir James Yeo that I only allowed three days 
for their arrival. I now beg leave to refer the 
court to a letter from General Proctor, no. 20, 
wherein he states the absolute necessity of my sail- 
ing and likewise to the general orders of the com- 
mander of the forces in America dated the 24 
Novr., 1813, wherein His Excellency is pleased to 
say that Captain Barclay and his brave crew have 
by their gallant daring and self devotion to their 
country's cause preserved its honor and their own 
even in defeat. Situated as I now am and however 
unwilling I should be under less imperious cir- 
cumstances to obtrude my former services on this 
court, I feel it a duty incumbent on me on this oc- 
casion to state that I have been sixteen years ac- 
tually employed in His Majesty's service, have 



i68 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

been very frequently engaged with the enemy, and 
have been wounded eight times. I have thus en- 
deavoured to state to the court the whole of the 
leading circumstances connected with this case and 
in the unavoidable absence of living witnesses, I 
have been compelled to have resource to authenti- 
cated documents of official correspondence which 
I trust will be sufficient to shew that necessity alone 
forced me to seek so unequal a combat. And al- 
though unsuccessful, I indulge the hope that the 
decision of this court will rescue my character 
from the imputation of rashness, and will be hon- 
orable to myself, and to the brave officers and crew 
under my command. 

R[OBERT] H[ERIOT] BARCLAY 



XIX 

Court of Enquiry on Captain 
Jesse Duncan Elliott 

From the original manuscript in the office of the 
judge advocate general, United States Navy Depart- 
ment, Washington. In copying this document it has 
not always been possible to distinguish between peri- 
ods, commas, and dashes. 



19- COURT OF ENQUIRY ON CAPTAIN 
JESSE DUNCAN ELLIOTT, APRIL, 1815 

U.S. Sloop Ontario'* 
New York, i6th April, 1815 

Sir: In a conversation with some of the officers 
of the service I am informed that in consequence 
of an opinion formed by a court of inquiry on the 
loss of the British fleet on Lake Erie on the loth 
Septr., 1 813, my vessel, the Niagara, is reflected on 
by some who are inimical to our service. I wish it 
understood that early after the action I applied to 
the Navy Dept. for an investigation into the facts of 
the action. It was not granted. Justice to myself, 
friends, and the service I have the honor to belong 
to, compels me to ask that the court at present in- 
quiring into the losses of President, Frolic, and 
Rattlesnake,'^ may be instructed to inform the 
country of the part I bore in action of the loth 
Septr., 1 8 13, and whether or not did the Niagara 
attempt to make her escape from the enemy (as is 
stated by the British Court) .'^ A large number of 

9* The Ontario was commanded by Elliott and belonged to a 
squadron under Commodore Stephen Decatur, which was at New 
York preparing to sail for the Mediterranean. 

3S Three American ships of war which had been captured by the 
enemy, and whose loss was being investigated by a naval court. 

98 In a summary of the evidence given before the Barclay court- 
martial, published in the Naval Chronicle (London), vol. xxxii, 242, 

[171] 



172 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

the officers that were on board the fleet are at pres- 
ent in this squadron, the investigation will require 
but a day or two, and I presume will not delay the 
sailing of the squadron. 

With great respect, I have the honor to be 

your obt. servt. 
Signed: J [esse] D[uncan] Elliott 
The Honorable B. W. Crowninshield." 

I certify this to be a true copy of the original. 

Wm. H. Campbell 

Navy Department [Washington, D.C.], 

April 20, 1815. 

Sir: The court of enquiry, now setting at New 
York, is ordered to proceed, immediately, to the 
investigation requested by your letter of the i6th 
instant. 

I am, very respectfully, your ob, servt. 

B. W. Crowninshield 
Capt. Jesse D. Elliott, Sloop Ontario, New York. 



the statement is made that Perry was obliged to leave his flag-ship 
and hoist his flag on board another vessel, "which had not been en- 
gaged, and was making away." The minutes of the court, however, 
did not thus reflect on the conduct of the Niagara. See Document 18. 
The Elliott court seems to have confined itself to the disproving of 
the assertion made by the British periodical. It examined seven junior 
officers, two of the Lawrence and five of the Niagara. The com- 
manders of these vessels did not testify. 

^^ Crowninshield was secretary of the navy from December 19, 
1814, until September 30, 1818. He was a member of the distin- 
guished Massachusetts family of that name, and represented the 
Salem district in Congress from 1823 to 1831. 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 173 



Minutes of a Court of Enquiry held on board 
the United States sloop of war Ontario in the har- 
bour of New York in pursuance of the following 
orders: 

Navy Department [Washington, D.C.], 

April 20th, 1 81 5. 

Sir: It has been stated to this department, that, 
by the proceedings of a court of enquiry in Great 
Britain, ordered to investigate the causes of the 
loss of the British fleet on Lake Erie, on the loth of 
September, 1813, the conduct of Captain Jesse D. 
Elliott, of the U.S. navy, who commanded the brig 
Niagara on that day, is misrepresented. Justice 
to the reputation of Capt. Elliott and to the navy 
of the U. States requires that a true statement of 
the facts in relation to his conduct, on that occasion, 
be exhibited to the world. The court, therefore, 
of which you are president, will immediately pro- 
ceed to enquire into the same, to ascertain the part 
he sustained in the action of that day, and report 
its opinion thereon to this department. 

I am, respectfully, yr. obt. servant, 

B. W. Crowninshield 
Com. Alexander Murray,"' New York. 



98 Murray was the senior officer of the navy, and was president 
of the court. 



174 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

April 24TH, 18 15. 
The Court met. Present- 
Corn. Murray, President 

Captain Evans,'" Lieut Comt. Rodgers,"" Mem- 
bers. 

Henry Wheaton,"' Esquire, Judge Advocate. 

The court being duly sworn (together with the 
judge advocate) proceeded to enquire into the 
facts relative to the conduct of Captain Elliott in 
the action of the loth September, 1813, on Lake 
Erie. 

The annexed papers marked A. and B. were 
read.^*'^ 

Lt. Nelson Webster, late sailing master of the 
Niagara, was sworn. 

Q. by the Court. Having seen and read Capt. 
Perry's official account of the action of the loth 
September, 18 13, on Lake Erie, please to state 
whether it contains a correct statement of facts? 

A. I believe it does. 

Q. by the judge advocate. What further do you 
know respecting the subject matter of this enquiry? 

A. Just at daylight, on the loth of Sept., 1813, 

99 Captain Samuel Evans. 

100 Lieutenant George Washington Rodgers, a brother of Com- 
modore John Rodgers. 

101 Wheaton, who is now remembered as a diplomat and a writer 
of legal books, was at this time a New York lawyer and the editor 
of the National Advocate, an administration organ. 

102 "A" is an extract from a "London Paper," the same as that pub- 
lished in the British Naval Chronicle, vol. xxxii, 242. See note 115. 
"B" is a copy of Perry's official letter describing the battle. See Docu- 
ment 7. 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 175 

we were in Put-in Bay, and discovered the enemy's 
fleet. A signal was made by Capt. Perry, and we 
immediately got under way, and beat out of the 
bay -the wind ahead. After we got out, the wind 
being light, it shifted, which gave us the weather 
gage. We made sail in pursuit, and a signal was 
made for each vessel to take its station. The Lawr- 
ence led the van, the Caledonia next, and then the 
Niagara, in close order. The smaller vessels were 
astern. The enemy commenced his fire upon the 
headmost vessel at fifteen minutes before noon, 
which the Lawrence returned at about noon, at the 
distance of one mile and a half from the enemy. 
Capt. Elliott directed me to commence from my 
division with a long 12. Soon after, we fired one 
or two broadsides from the carronades. Capt. El- 
liott directed us to cease firing the carronades, as 
the shot fell short, and to continue firing the long 
guns. The enemy were principally directing their 
fire, at this moment, against the Lawrence. We 
were using every exertion to get down. The wind 
was light. It was at half past twelve that we com- 
menced firing our carronades at long gun shot dis- 
tance, and we, being to windward, were continual- 
ly nearing the enemy. We continued the action, 
with light winds, continually bearing down in our 
station, until about two o'clock, when the Lawr- 
ence was disabled. Previous to that, Captain El- 
liott directed the Caledonia to bear up and give 
him room to close with the Lawrence. The Cale- 
donia dropped to leeward of us, and the Lawrence 



176 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



dropped out of the line, nearly at one and the same 
time. The wind sprung up, and Capt. Elliott made 
sail to close with their headmost ship. After we 
got into close action, I was knocked down, and 
carried below. When I came on deck again, found 
Capt. Perry on board. Capt. Elliott was in the 
gun boats, and the action still continuing. In 
about twenty-five minutes afterwards the enemy 
struck. 

Q. by the court. What was the force of our 
squadron, as to size of vessels, description, number 
of guns and men. 
A. It consisted of the brig Lawrence of 20 guns, 
eighteen 32 pound carronades and two long 12's, 
the brig Niagara of 20 guns of the same descrip- 
tion and about 150 men, of which not more than 
120 were fit for duty. She was not well manned, 
as she had 25 militiamen and about 30 soldiers, and 
a great number of blacks, only one of whom was a 
seaman. The brig Caledonia of 3 guns, long 12s 
or 1 8s. The schooner Sommers of 2 guns, schooner 
Ariel of 3 guns, one of which burst in the action. 
I do not remember the Scorpion's force. The 
schooner Tygress of one gun, a long 32 pounder. 
The Porcupine and Tripp, same. I did not con- 
sider the vessels so well manned as our vessels gen- 
erally are on the ocean. 

Q. What was the enemy's force? 

A. In close action, they were not superior to us 
in my opinion, but from the lightness of the wind. 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 177 

the situation of the fleets, and the enemy having 
long guns, I considered them superior. 

Q. Did the enemy's vessels appear to be as bad- 
ly manned as represented to the British court mar- 
tial before whom Capt. Barclay was tried? 

A. The statement given before that court I 
consider to be false. I infer it from the appear- 
ance of the Detroit after the action. I saw sixty 
wounded men on board her which I believe to have 
been seamen. I believe the enemy had more than 
the number of British seamen stated. 

Q. What command had Captain Elliott in the 
action? 

A. He had command of the Niagara. 

Q. Did he do all in his power to gain a nearer 
position? and when Capt. Perry went on board 
of the Niagara, did you see any thing in Capt. El- 
liott's conduct that indicated an intention on his 
part to make sail from the enemy? 

A. He did all in his power to gain a nearer po- 
sition. I never observed any intention on his part 
to make sail from the enemy, on the contrary, I 
noted in him a disposition to get into as close ac- 
tion as possible. 

Q. Do you believe that Capt. Elliott did every 
thing that a brave and meritorious officer should 
have done, in the action? 

A. Yes. 

Q. Have you heard any officer make any re- 
marks derogatory to his character or conduct on 
the loth of September. 

A. No. 



178 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

Q. by Captain Elliott. Did the Niagara at any 
time, during the action, attempt to make off from 
the British fleet? 
A. No. 

Q. What was the distance from the Lawrence 
to the Niagara when the firing commenced from 
the enemy? 

A. There was the intervening space of the Cal- 
edonia, the three vessels being in close order. 

O. What was the situation of both fleets when 
the action commenced on our part? at what time 
did I order the Caledonia out of the line? and 
how soon after did I place my vessel ahead of the 
Lawrence? and what appeared to be the situation 
of the British fleet? 

A. We were in line ahead, endeavouring to get 
down upon the enemy as fast as possible, abaft the 
enemy's beam with the wind nearly abeam. It was 
a little after the middle of the action that the Cale- 
donia was ordered out of the line. The Lawrence 
was dropping astern, and we shooting ahead. We 
had got into pretty close action before I went be- 
low. The British fleet was in close order, and I 
think had no spars shot away. 

Q. Was not my helm up, and the Niagara 
standing direct for the enemy's fleet when Capt. 
Perry came on board? 

A. I was below, and cannot say. 

Q. What was the situation of the gun boats 
when I left the Niagara, and how were they dis- 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 179 

posed of when I reached the head of the enemy's 
line with them? 

A. Just before I went below, they were a long 
way astern. When I came on deck, I observed the 
gun boat Capt. Elliott was in had got nearly to the 
head of the enemy's line, and he was in very close 
action directing the fire of the boats at the enemy's 
ships. 

Q. How did the Lawrence bear of the Niagara 
when Capt. Perry came on board, and what dis- 
tance was she from the Niagara? 

A. I was not on deck, and before I went below, 
the Lawrence was rather on our leeward quarter. 

Lieut. Yarnell,'"' late ist Lt. of the Lawrence 
was sworn. 

Q. Does Capt. Perry's official account of the 
action of the loth September contain a correct 
statement of facts? 

A. I think generally as to what I could see it is 
correct- except as to the statement in page 2d, line 
i2th [page 80, line 15], of the Niagara being 
brought into close action. I believe the Niagara 
was three quarters of a mile astern of the Law- 
rence, and when she passed us to windward, at the 
time Com. Perry took possession of her, she was 
half a mile off on our weather bow. This was 
about two hours and forty-eight minutes after the 
action commenced. I expressed my surprize to 
Capt. Perry on observing the Niagara in that sit- 

103 Lieutenant John J. Yarnall, who was lost on board the Eper- 
vier in 1815. 



i8o BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

uation, and after the Lawrence was disabled he left 
her in my possession and went on board the Niagara. 

Q. What further do you know relative to the 
subject of this enquiry? 

A. In the morning of the loth Sept., we dis- 
covered the enemy's squadron and got under way- 
stood out past the islands. The wind veered, and 
became favourable soon after we passed one of the 
islands. Within about three miles of the enemy, 
Capt. Elliott in the Niagara bore down and 
spoke Capt. Perry. Capt. Elliott fell into line 
next to the Caledonia. The Detroit commenced 
the action by firing a long 24 pounder. Capt. 
Perry directed me to hail the Scorpion, for the 
purpose of engaging the enemy, and at the same 
time to commence our fire with a 12 pounder 
on the forecastle. A few minutes afterwards, we 
commenced a fire with the carronades. It hav- 
ing been enquired of me whether they told or 
not, and I answering in the negative, Capt. Perry 
ordered the helm to be put up and bore down 
upon the enemy. The Caledonia and Scorpion en- 
gaged. We run down and came within about half 
musket shot, exposed to the whole of the enemy's 
fire at first and afterwards to that of four of his 
vessels, the Chippewa, Detroit, Hunter, and Queen 
Charlotte. We lay opposite the Hunter, and the 
Queen Charlotte was astern of the Hunter. Our 
first division was fought against the Detroit, the 
second against the Queen Charlotte, and occasion- 
ally guns at the Hunter. At several periods during 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT i8i 

the contest, I expressed my surprise that the Nia- 
gara was not brought into close action. The crew 
also expressed their surprise, but were encouraged 
by the officers to fight on till she should come down 
and take a part with us. I observed the Niagara 
firing a distant fire (I suppose three quarters of a 
mile ofif) at the enemy's smaller vessels, the Lady 
Prevost and others. It was two hours and forty- 
eight minutes after the action commenced that 
Com. Perry said to me, ''I leave you to surrender 
the vessel to the enemy." At this time we could 
not fight a single gun. He left us. After he got in 
the boat, he observed that he would leave it dis- 
cretionary with me, either to surrender or receive 
the enemy's fire. I called on Mr. Taylor"* and 
Mr Forrest,'"^ who were on deck, to know their 
opinion. They told me it was useless to sacrifice 
any more men, as we were unable to sustain the 
action any longer. The colours were consequently 
struck. Immediately on Capt. Perry's arrival on 
board the Niagara, he made sail and bore down- 
broke the enemy's line, and the action was decided 
in about fifteen or twenty minutes, except as to two 
of the enemy's vessels, which attempted to escape, 
but were pursued. 

Q. What was the force of our squadron? 

A. The Lawrence and Niagara of 20 guns 
each, eighteen 32 pd carronades, and two long 12's. 

10* Sailing-master William V. Taylor. He became a captain in 
1841. 

10-^ Acting Lieutenant Dulaney Forrest. He died a lieutenant in 
1825. 



1 82 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

The Caledonia had two or three guns on circles. 
The Ariel had 3, the Scorpion 2 guns -one a 12, 
and the other an 18 or 24 pounder. The rest 
one gun each. The Lawrence had 131 men and 
boys, of every description, of which 103 were fit 
for duty. The squadron had but few seamen. We 
had about 30 marines and some militia men. 

Q. What command had Capt. Elliott in the 
action? 

A. He commanded the Niagara. 

Q. How near was he to the enemy when the 
action commenced? 

A. About a mile and a half, or two miles. 

Q. Do you believe Capt. Elliott did every thing 
a brave and meritorious officer should have done, 
in the action? 

A. I am under the belief that the Niagara could 
have been brought into closer action. The same 
wind which would bring the Lawrence into action 
would likewise bring the Niagara into action. The 
main top sail of the Lawrence was laying to the 
mast, foresail hauled up, and top gallant sail 
furled. I think the Niagara had her main top sail 
also to the mast-that is, while she was astern. 

Q. by Captain Elliott. Did the Niagara at any 
time during the action attempt to make ofif from 
the British fleet? 

A. No. 

0. What was the distance from the Lawrence 
to the Niagara, when the firing commenced from 
the enemy? 

A. A quarter of a mile. 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 183 



Q. What was the situation of the gun boats 
when I left the Niagara, and how were they dis- 
posed of when I reached the head of the enemy's 
line with them? 

A. The gun boats, generally were astern and to 
windward. I saw Capt. Elliott on board one of 
them, and they were coming into action. They 
were very much scattered, but all bearing down in- 
to action. 

Q. What was the established order of battle, 
and is the sketch,"' now shewn you, a correct one? 

A. The sketch is correct. 

Q. What were the observations of Lieuts. Tur- 
ner"' and Holdup,"' when speaking to you of the 
action? 

A. They expressed their dissaprobation and 
surprise that the Niagara was not brought into 
action. 

Q. When I was passing the Lawrence in the 
boat, did you not come to the gangway, and ask me 
to bring the boat along side, as you were sinking? 

A. No! 

Q. Did you not, on the return of the fleet to 
Erie, discovering that there was an altercation be- 
tween Captains Perry and Elliott, meet Midship- 
man Page"' on the beach, and say to him that there 

io« A copy of this sketch will be found in R. Jarvis's Biographical 
Notice of Com. Jesse Duncan Elliott, 446. 

107 Lieutenant Daniel Turner, commander of the Caledonia. He 
became a captain in 1835. 

10s Lieutenant Thomas Holdup (Stevens), commander of the 
Trippe. He was promoted to a captaincy in 1836. 

109 Midshipman Hugh N. Page, of the Tigress. He became a cap- 
tain in 1850. 



1 84 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

was the deuce to pay about the action, but that as 
to your part, you had always given each of those 
officers an equal share of credit? 

A. No -I do not recollect having any conver- 
sation with the young gentleman alluded to. 

Q. How was the wind from the beginning to 
the end of the action? 

A. I do not precisely recollect. I suppose a 
vessel might go two knots. 

Q. by the court. In the general surprize which 
you state was expressed that the Niagara did not 
close faster into action, did you make any allow- 
ance for the lightness of the wind? 

A. In my former answers I have made allow- 
ances for the wind and the existing state of things. 

Q. Was there any difference in the force of the 
wind from the commencement of the action until 
the time when Captain Perry came on board the 
Niagara? 

A. The wind freshened. About the time he 
left the Lawrence there was more wind than there 
had been. 

The court adjourned to to-morrow morning at 
half past nine o'clock. 

April 25TH, 1815. 

The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present: 
Commodore Murray, President'^ 
Captain Evans, Lieut. Comt. Rodgers, Members \ 
The Judge Advocate. 
Lieut. Webster was reexamined. 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 185 



Q. by the judge advocate. When was it that 
Capt. Elliott bore down to speak Capt. Perry? and 
what passed? 

A. At about ten o'clock in the morning, Capt. 
Elliott called all hands aft, and requested Com. 
Perry to shew his boys his flag, when Com. Perry 
hoisted a flag with the motto on it of Dont give up 
the ship. Capt. Elliott told his crew to read it, and 
explained to them what was on the flag, and told 
them to swear within themselves that this flag 
should never come down, observing that these were 
the dying words of Lawrence, 

Q. What was the established order of battle? 

A. The original order of sailing was for the 
Niagara to lead the van. I afterwards learned 
that, in consequence of the enemy's forming dif- 
ferently from what was expected, we changed our 
order of battle, which brought us into the situation 
I stated yesterday. 

O. When was this change made, and how? 

A. The signal which I saw was made after the 
commodore's flag (above mentioned) was hoisted, 
I think. This was the first forming of the line. 

Q. Is the sketch now shewn you a correct view 
of the manner in which the line was formed? 

A. It is. 

Q. by Capt. Elliott. How far was the Cale- 
donia from the Niagara, from the commencement 
of the enemy's fire until I ordered her out of the 
line? 

A. She was as close as she could be with safety, 



i86 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

and I recollect once backing the topsail to prevent 
running into her. 

Q. by the court. How long time elapsed be- 
tween the Lawrence commencing the action and 
the Niagara's engaging? 

A. I should say ten minutes. 

Q. by Capt. Elliott. What was the distance 
from the Lawrence to the Niagara from the com- 
mencement of the action until I ordered the Cale- 
donia out of the line? and did not the enemy's 
shot take effect in a few minutes after the firing 
began, upon the Niagara's spars and rigging. 

A. At no time during that period were they 
more than two hundred yards apart. The enemy's 
shot took effect very soon, and shot away one of the 
fore top mast back stays. 

Q. Did not the enemy's fire appear to be direc- 
ted at the Niagara's spars and rigging? 

A. I think it was. 

Q. What distance was I from the Lawrence 
when I passed her gaining the head of the line? 

A. It did not, in my opinion, exceed thirty 
yards. 

Q. Just before you were wounded what was 
the relative position of the Lawrence and the Nia- 
gara? 

A. The Lawrence was a little on our larboard 
or weather quarter. This placed us nearer the en- 
emy than the Lawrence. 

Q. What damage did the Niagara sustain in 
the action? 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 187 



A. Our main stay, fore top mast back stays, a 
great deal of running rigging, and two shrouds of 
our fore rigging, were shot away. Some of our 
spars were wounded. There were two men killed 
from my division, before I went below, and a num- 
ber of men wounded on board. 

Q. Was the Niagara, at any time during the 
action, from half to three quarters of a mile on the 
weather bow of the Lawrence after I ordered the 
Caledonia out of the line? 

A. She was not. I wish, also to correct my evi- 
dence of yesterday (page 3 [i.e. page 180]) by 
adding that the Ariel and the Scorpion were on 
the weather bow of the Lawrence. 

Q. Did you observe the enemy's ship Queen 
Charlotte bear up and run away from the Niagara? 
and if so, when? 

A. She did bear up from the Niagara's fire, in 
about half an hour after the Niagara commenced 

firing. 

Mr. Montgomery,"" midshipman late of the 

Niagara was sworn. 

Q. Where was your station on board? 

A. In the first division, commanded by Lieut. 
Edwards."^ 

Q. Does Captain Perry's official letter contain 
a correct statement of facts as you know or believe? 

A. Yes. 



110 Midshipman John B. Montgomery, He was promoted to be 
jtain in 185 
m Lieutena 
January, 1814. 



captain in 1853. 

Ill Lieutenant John J. Edwards. He died of fever, at Erie in 



1 88 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

Q. State what you know relative to the matter 
of this enquiry? 

A. In the commencement of the action the Ni- 
agara took a position astern of the Caledonia in 
close line, agreeably to a signal made by Com. Per- 
ry. Capt. Elliott, observing that the enemy fired 
principally at the Lawrence, ordered Mr. Turner 
to keep away, so as to enable us to support the 
commodore by taking a position astern of the 
Lawrence. The Caledonia took her station astern 
of the Niagara, and continued there during the ac- 
tion. The lightness of the wind prevented our get- 
ting as close to the Lawrence as it was supposed, 
we intended. Capt. Elliott, observing that the car- 
ronade shot fell short, ordered them to fire from 
the long gun only. When the Lawrence was dis- 
abled, a breeze sprung up; we passed her in com- 
pany with the Caledonia, to windward, at about 
twenty-five yards distance. The Caledonia was 
then astern of us. We took a position which 
brought the Lawrence nearly astern of us on the 
lee quarter. Captain Elliott ordered us to make 
sail, and we had boarded the fore tack and were in 
the act of setting top gallant sails, before Capt. 
Perry came on board. I observed him come over 
the weather gangway of the Lawrence, get into a 
boat, and pass under the Niagara's stern. I went 
aft, and reported it to Capt. Elliott who was then 
standing on the tafYel. Capt. Elliott met Com. 
Perry at the weather gangway, and shook hands 
with him. Some conversation passed which I did 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 189 



not hear. Capt. Elliott soon disappeared, and I 
did not see him afterwards till the end of the action. 
When Com. Perry came on board, we were firing 
all our starboard guns. We bore down in company 
with the Caledonia, and directed our fire princi- 
pally at the Detroit. The enemy's line was com- 
pact after the Lawrence struck. In about fifteen 
minutes after Com. Perry came on board, the De- 
troit struck, and the Queen Charlotte a few minutes 
after. The Lady Prevost was then about forty or 
fifty yards from the Niagara's lee bow. The ma- 
rines were ordered to discharge their muskets from 
our forecastle at the Lady Prevost. After the 
second discharge of musketry, she struck. I think 
the Hunter struck before Capt. Elliott left the 
brig. 

Q. by the court. Did Capt. Elliott do all in his 
power to gain a nearer position? 

A. Yes. We were bearing down on the en- 
emy before Com. Perry came on board. We had 
kept up an incessant fire from our carronades some 
time before Com. Perry came on board. 

Q. Do you believe Capt. Elliott did every thing 
he ought in duty to do in the action, as a brave and 
meritorious officer? 

A. Yes! .and I heard him express to the crew 
his intention of bringing us into as close action as 
possible. 

Q. by Capt. Elliott. Did the Niagara at any 
time during the action attempt to make her escape 
from the British fleet? 



I90 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



A. No. 

Q. What was the distance from the Lawrence 
to the Niagara when the enemy's fire commenced? 
and what distance were the Lawrence, Caledonia, 
and Niagara from the enemy's fleet? 

A. We were as close to the Caledonia as we 
could form the line. The distance between the 
Caledonia and the Lawrence I cannot state. The 
three vessels were not within carronade distance of 
the enemy, but at long gun shot, when the enemy's 
fire commenced. 

Q. What was the distance from the Lawrence 
to the Niagara when we commenced our fire? and 
what distance was each of those vessels from the en- 
emy's fleet? 

A. The distance was at that time from one hun- 
dred fifty to two hundred yards. The two vessels 
were at long gun shot. The second or third shot 
fired from the enemy cut away two starboard fore 
top mast back stays and fell about thirty yards to 
windward of us. 

Q. What was the distance from the Lawrence 
to the Caledonia and from the Caledonia to the 
Niagara? and what distance was each of those ves- 
sels from the enemy's fleet when I ordered the Cal- 
edonia to bear up and let me pass her?, 

A. The Lawrence was at that time eighty or 
ninety yards from the Caledonia; and the flying 
gib boom of the Niagara was nearly over the taffel 
of the Caledonia. The three brigs were still at 
long gun shot from the enemy. 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 191 



■ Q. When I ordered the Caledonia to bear up 
where did I place the Niagara? and where was 
she when Capt Perry came on board? 

A. Capt. Elliott placed his vessel astern of the 
Lawrence, and when Capt. Perry came on board, 
the Niagara was ahead of the Lawrence standing 
down on the enemy. The Caledonia was ordered 
out of the line about ten minutes after the com- 
mencement of the action, and we passed the Lawr- 
ence at half past two o'clock. 

Q. When Capt. Perry came on board the Ni- 
agara did he not find her helm up, and that vessel 
standing direct for the enemy's ship Detroit? 

A. We were standing for the enemy, whose line 
was in compact order. 

Q. What was the situation of the gun boats 
when I left the Niagara? and how were they dis- 
posed of when brought to the head of the enemy's 
line? 

A. When Capt. Elliott left the Niagara, they 
were all astern of us. We had passed the Scorpion 
and Ariel. When Capt. Perry came on board they 
were all astern, except that I do not recollect 
whether the Scorpion and Ariel were to windward 
or astern. 

Q. When I hailed the gun boats, did I not or- 
der them to make sail and keep close under my 
stern? 

A. I heard Capt. Elliott hail the Porcupine 
and order her to take a position close under our 
stern, at the commencement of the action. The 



192 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

Scorpion was ahead and the Ariel on the weather 
bow of the Lawrence. 

Q. What was the established order of battle, 
and is the sketch now shewn you a correct view of 
the situation of both fleets at the times stated? 

A. In the commencement of the action, the 
Scorpion was the headmost vessel, the Lawrence 
next, and the Ariel on the weather bow of the 
Lawrence, the Niagara astern of the Caledonia. 
The two lines are correctly stated in the sketch, ex- 
cepting that the enemy's schooner Chippewa took 
her position ahead of the Detroit after the com- 
mencement of the action -I presume, in order to 
support the British Commodore and to engage the 
small vessels at the head of our line. 

Q. When Capt. Perry came on board the Nia- 
gara, was she half a mile on the weather bow of the 
Lawrence? 

A. No! She was nearly ahead of the Lawr- 
ence, a little on her weather bow, perhaps one hun- 
dred yards. 

Q. Did the Lawrence and Caledonia at any 
time in the action bear up, and leave the Niagara 
with her main top sail aback, or leave her on a 
wind? 

A. Until the Caledonia changed her position, 
the Niagara was in close order with her. The 
Lawrence and Caledonia did not bear up and leave 
the Niagara, as interrogated. 

O. by the court. At what stage of the action did 
the Niagara get within musket shot of the enemy? 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 193 



A. After the Lawrence was disabled. 

Q. by Capt. Elliott. Did Capt. Elliott or Capt. 
Perry bring the Niagara into close action? 

A. The Niagara had closed with the enemy 
some time before Capt. Perry came on board. 

Q. Did not the wind die away almost to a calm 
when the action was pretty well on? 

A. In a very short time after the commence- 
ment of the action it died away, and it continued 
nearly calm until about the time the Lawrence was 
disabled. 

Q. Did the enemy's ship Queen Charlotte bear 
up to avoid the Niagara's fire, and if so, at what 
time? 

A. Yes! before the Lawrence was disabled, she 
bore up and ran foul of the Detroit on that ship's 
lee quarter. 

Q. by the court. Did the Niagara bear down 
and speak Com. Perry before the action? and if so, 
what passed? 

A. Capt. Elliott spoke Capt. Perry while we 
were passing to leeward. Capt. Elliott mentioned 
to his crew that it was the commodore's intention 
to bring the enemy to close action immediately. 
He told them it was probable we should receive 
one or two raking fires from the enemy, and ad- 
vised them to receive it with coolness -not to be 
alarmed. He observed that we should not com- 
mence firing until within musket shot distance - 
and then, if every man did his duty, we should flog 



194 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



them in ten minutes. He then ordered them to 
their quarters. 

Mr. Adams,''' late midshipman of the Niagara, 
was sworn. 

Q. Do you believe Capt. Perry's official ac- 
count to be correct? 

A. I think it is. 

Q. Did the Niagara at any time during the ac- 
tion attempt to make off from the British fleet? 

A. No! 

Q. What was the distance from the Lawrence 
to the Niagara when the enemy's fire commenced? 
and what distance were the Lawrence, Caledonia, 
and Niagara from the enemy? 

A. I should say the distance was thirty or forty 
yards between the Lawrence and Niagara. The 
three vessels were about half or three quarters of a 
mile from the enemy. 

Q. What was the distance from the Lawrence 
to the Caledonia, and from the Caledonia to the 
Niagara? and what distance were those vessels 
from the enemy, when I ordered the Caledonia to 
bear up and let me pass her? 

A. The distance was not then more than twenty 
yards from the Lawrence to the Caledonia, and 
our gib boom was over the Caledonia's taffel. All 
were nearing the enemy, and something less than 
half a mile off. 

Q. When Capt. Perry came on board the Ni- 

"2 Midshipman Samuel W. Adams. He was dropped from the 
navy in 1815. 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 195 



agara, did he not find her helm up, and that vessel 
standing direct for the enemy's ship Detroit. 

A. The helm was up, and we were bearing 
down upon the enemy. The foresail was set for 
that purpose. 

Q. by the court. Did Capt. Elliott do all in his 
power to close in with the Lawrence when she was 
overpowered by the enemy's vessels firing into her? 

A. I believe he did. 

Q. Did he get up in time to afford her relief? 

A. She was nearly disabled, but still firing 
when he got up. 

Q. Was Capt. Elliott's conduct, during the ac- 
tion, that of a good officer, in your judgment? 

A. It was. 

Q. Did you observe any indication of an inten- 
tion on his part to withdraw from the enemy at the 
time the Lawrence was disabled? 

A. No! he appeared to be anxious to close in. 

Q. by Capt. Elliott. Did the Lawrence and 
Caledonia, at any time during the action, run down 
within musket shot of the enemy, and leave the 
Niagara firing at the enemy's smaller vessels at a 

distance? 

A. No! we were close to the Caledonia dur- 
ing the whole action, till she was ordered out of the 
way in order to let us pass to the assistance of the 
Commodore. 

Mr. Tattem,''' master's mate on board the Ni- 
agara was sworn. 

113 Master's Mate Robert S. Tatem. 



196 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

O. by the Judge Advocate. Did Capt. Elliott 
do all in his power to close in with the Lawrence 
when she vt^as overpowered by the enemy's vessels 
firing into her? 

A. He did. 

Q. Did he get up in time to afford her relief? 

A. We were never much out of the way. We 
were immediately under the Caledonia's stern, and 
the Lawrence was about the length of the Cale- 
donia ahead of the latter. The three brigs were in 
compact line. 

Q. Was Capt. Elliott's conduct during the ac- 
tion such as merited approbation? 

A. I thought at the time that no man could dis- 
play more zeal, gallantry, and conduct than he did. 

Q. Did you observe any appearance of an in- 
tention on his part to withdraw from the enemy, 
when the Lawrence was disabled? 

A. No! far from it. 

Q. Did the Niagara at any time during the ac- 
tion make off from the British fleet? 

A. No! 

Q. Did the Lawrence and Caledonia at any 
time bear up and place themselves within musket 
shot distance of the enemy, leaving the Niagara 
three quarters of a mile off, firing at the enemy's 
smaller vessels? 

A. No! Until we passed the Caledonia we 
were immediately under her stern. 

O. by Capt. Elliott. What conversation passed 
between me and Capt. Perry when I returned on 
board the Niagara? 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 197 

A. I saw Capt Perry shake hands with Capt. 
Elliott, and heard him express his high satisfaction 
at Capt. Elliott's conduct, and attributed to him a 
large share of the glory of the day. 

Q. How near was Capt. Elliott to the Lawr- 
ence in passing her? 

A. He took very little more than room enough 
to pass to windward. 

Q. Was the Niagara three-fourths of a mile on 
the bow of the Lawrence when Capt. Perry came 
on board? 

A. No! I should suppose not more than sixty 
or seventy yards, if that. 

O. Was not the helm up and the Niagara bear- 
ing down on the enemy when Capt. Perry came on 
board? 

A. Yes. 

Q. Had you been an officer on board the Lawr- 
ence, would you have supposed there was any de- 
ficiency in the conduct of Capt. Elliott in coming 
to the relief of the Lawrence? 

A. No one, seeing what was going on, could 
suppose so. For my own part, I should not. 

The Court adjourned to to-morrow morning at 
half past 9 o'clock. 

April, 26TH, 1815. The court met pursuant to 
adjournment. Present: 

Commodore Murray, President'^ 

Captain Evans, Lieut. Comt. Rodgers, Members ; 

The Judge Advocate. 



1 98 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

Mr. Cummings/'* acting midshipman on board 
the Niagara, was sworn. 

Q. by the court. Did Capt. Elliott do all in his 
power to gain a near position to the enemy? 

A. Yes - in my opinion, every thing he could do. 

O. Do you believe that Capt. Elliott did every 
thing he ought to have done in the action? 

A. Yes. 

Q. Did the Niagara attempt to make off from 
the enemy's fleet during the action? 

A, No! 

O. Did the enemy's ship Queen Charlotte at- 
tempt to make off from the Niagara? 

A. Yes -the Queen Charlotte attempted to get 
away from us, and in so doing run foul of the De- 
troit. This was before Capt. Elliott left the Ni- 
agara to go on board the gun boats. 

Q. Where was the Niagara when Capt. Perry 
came on board of her? and was the Lawrence, at 
that time, three-fourths of a mile nearer to the en- 
emy than the Niagara? 

A. The Niagara was laying along side the en- 
emy's ships Queen Charlotte and Detroit. I think 
she was not more than two cables length from 
them. I think we were nearer the enemy than the 
Lawrence. 

O. When we passed the Lawrence how near 
were we to her? 

A. I was not looking at her-but the first time 
I saw her, after we passed her, she was not more 
than a quarter of a mile off. 

iii Midshipman John L. Cummings. He died a lieutenant in 1824. 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 199 



Q. Did the Lawrence and Caledonia, at any 
time during the action, bear up for the enemy, 
leaving the Niagara standing on to windward? 

A. No -not that I saw. 

Q. Did Capt. Elliott order the Caledonia out 
of the line at any period of the action? 

A. Yes! an hour before Capt. Perry came on 
board. 

Lieut. Forrest, acting lieutenant on board the 
Lawrence, was sworn. 

Q. Where were you stationed? 

A. In the second division. 

Q. Have you read Capt. Perry's official letter, 
and does it contain a correct statement of facts? 

A. I have just read it, and it is correct. 

Q. by the judge advocate. What else do you 
know of this enquiry? 

A. When we got within three miles of the en- 
emy on the loth of September, Capt. Elliott hailed 
us concerning the flag that was to be hoisted on 
board the Commodore. A flag with the motto, 
Dont give up the Ship, was hoisted. Com, Perry 
hailed Capt. Elliott, and told him that he (Com. 
P.) intended to engage the Detroit, and wished the 
Niagara to drop just astern of him. We went into 
action in that order. Signals were made from the 
Lawrence for each vessel to engage its opponent. 

Q. Did the Niagara attempt to make off from 
the British fleet at any time during the action? 

^. No! 

Q. Do you know whether Capt. Elliott did all 
in his power to gain a position nearer to the enemy? 



200 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

A. It is my opinion there might have been more 
sail set on the Niagara. 

Q. Did he do every thing becoming a brave and 
meritorious officer, in the action? 

A. So far as I saw, I believe he did. 

Q. Where was the Niagara when Com. Perry 
went on board? 

A. She was to windward of us. I suppose she 
was about half a mile ofif, but I cannot be positive. 

Q. Did you, during the action, express your 
surprize that the Niagara did not close with the 
enemy? 

A. Yes. 

Q. How far was the Niagara from the enemy 
at that time? 

A. I do not know. I suppose from three- 
fourths to one-half a mile. 

Q. Was the Niagara then engaged? 

A. She was firing. 

Q. How near was the Lawrence to the enemy 
at the same time? 

A. At point blank shot distance with a carron- 
ade. 

Q. Did the Caledonia and Lawrence at any 
time during the action bear up and run down on 
the enemy, leaving the Niagara standing on? 

A. After the action commenced the Niagara 
was standing directly after us. 

Q. Are Lieuts. Edwards and Smith,'" and Mr. 
Macgraw,"" late of the Niagara, dead? 

1^5 Lieutenant Joseph E. Smith. He died in Virginia in December, 
1813. 

11" Purser Humphrey Magrath. He killed himself in 1814. 



COURT OF ENQUIRY ON ELLIOTT 201 

A. Yes. 

Q. Is there any thing further relating to this 
enquiry that you wish to state to the court? 
A. No. 

The Court being cleared and the whole of the 
proceedings read over to the court by the judge ad- 
vocate, the following opinion was pronounced. 

OPINION 

The Court of Enquiry convened at the request of 
Captain Jesse D. Elliott, having deliberately ex- 
amined all the evidence produced before them for 
the purpose of investigating his conduct in the 
glorious battle of Lake Erie, on the loth of Sep- 
tember, 1 8 13, in which he bore so conspicuous a 
part, sincerely regret that there should have been 
any diversity of opinion respecting the events of 
that day, and imperious duty compels the court to 
promulgate testimony that appears materially to 
vary in some of its important points: the court, 
however, feel convinced that the attempts to wrest 
from Captain Elliott the laurels he gained in that 
splendid victory, as second in command, under that 
gallant and highly meritorious officer Captain 
Perry, ought in no wise to lessen him in the opinion 
of his fellow citizens, as a brave and skillful officer, 
and that the charge made in the proceedings of the 
British Court Martial by which Captain Barclay 
was tried, of his attempting to withdraw from the 
battle, is malicious and unfounded in fact. On the 
contrary, it has been proved to the satisfaction of 



202 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

this court that the enemy's ship Queen Charlotte 
bore off from the fire of the Niagara, commanded 
by Captain Elliott. 

A. Murray, Prest. 

Henry WHEATON, Judge Advocate 
Approved, B. W. Crowninshield 



A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF 
THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

Accounts of the battle are almost innumerable. 
Only the more important ones are here listed. 



A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF 
THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

Adams, Henry. History of the United States (New York, 
1891), vol. vii, 99-127. 

Allston, Joseph Blyth. Battle of Lake Erie (Charleston, 
1897), 14 pages, a poem. 

Armstrong, John. Notices of the War of 18 12 (New York, 
1836), vol. i, 167-170. 

Bancroft, George. History of the Battle of Lake Erie and 
Miscellaneous Papers, published with Oliver Dyer's Life and 
Writings of George Bancroft (New York, 1891), 129-189. 

Barnes, James. Naval Actions of the War of 1812 (New 
York, 1896), 138-156. 

The Hero of Erie (New York, 1898), 40-93. 

Battle of Lake Erie. Captain Heath's Address relative to the 
Battle of Lake Erie (Washington, 1817), 24 pages. 

Battle of Lake Erie Celebration. An Account of the Organ- 
ization and Proceedings of the Battle of Lake Erie Monu- 
ment Association, and Celebration of the 45th Anniversary 
of the Battle of Lake Erie, at Put-in-Bay Island, on Sep- 
tember tenth, 1858 (Sandusky, 1858), 49 pages. 

Battle of Lake Erie Centennial. Memorial in Conjunction 
with Perry's Victory Centennial and Exposition (published 
by the United States government, Washington, 1910), 18 
pages. 

Bowen, Abel. Naval Monument, containing official and 
other Accounts of all the Battles fought between the navies 
of the United States and Great Britain during the Late 
War, etc. (Boston, 1816), 81-95. 

This book publishes many important documents relating to the 
battle. 

[205] 



2o6 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

Brackenridge, Henry Marie. History of the late war, be- 
tween the United States and Great Britain, containing a 
minute Account of the various military and naval Opera- 
tions, illustrated with plates, second edition (Baltimore, 
1817), 184-187. 

Brown, Samuel R. Authentic History of the Second War 
for Independence, etc. (Auburn, 1815), 140-154. 

Views of the Campaigns of the North-western Army, etc., 

comprising Sketches of the Campaigns of Generals Hull and 
Dearborn, a minute and interesting Account of the naval 
Conflict on Lake Erie, etc. (Philadelphia, 1815), 84-102. 

Bunnell, David C. Travels and Adventures of David C. 
Bunnell, during twenty-three Years of a Seafaring Life, con- 
taining an accurate Account of the Battle of Lake Erie, etc. 
(Palmyra, 1831), 109- 11 8. 

B urges, Tristam. Battle of Lake Erie, with Notices of Com- 
modore Elliott's Conduct in that Engagement (Philadel- 
phia, 1839), 147 pages. 

This book contains many important documents respecting the 
Battle of Lake Erie and the controversy between Perry and Elliott. 
There are several editions, besides the above. One of them is 
published at Boston, and another at Providence. 

Calvert, George Henry. Oration on the Occasion of cele- 
brating the fortieth Anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie, 
delivered on the tenth of September, 1853, in Newport, R.I., 
second edition (Providence, 1854), 32 pages. 

The appendix contains three letters written by Perry to Commo- 
dore Isaac Chauncey in the summer of 1813. 

Clark, Thomas. Naval History of the United States, from 
the commencement of the Revolutionary War to the present 
Time (Philadelphia, 1814), vol. i, 217-222. 

Clay, Cassius Marcellus. Oration of Cassius Marcellus 
Clay before the Maumee Valley Historical and Monumental 
Association, of Toledo, Ohio, at Put-in-Bay Island, Lake 
Erie, on the lOth of September, 1891, the Anniversary of the 
Capture of the British Fleet by Oliver Hazard Perry (Phila- 
delphia, 1891), 19 pages. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY 207 



Cooper, James Fenimore. Lives of Distinguished American 
Naval Officers (Philadelphia, 1846), vol. ii, 161-232. 

These sketches were originally printed in Graham's Magazine, 
and were enlarged and improved before publication in book form. 
There is also an edition of the book printed at Auburn, New 
York, in 1846. 
Oliver Hazard Perry, in Grahams Magazine (Phila- 
delphia, 1843), vol. xxii, 269-278, 336-346. 

Battle of Lake Erie, or Answers to Messrs. Burges, Duer, 



and Mackenzie (Cooperstown, 1843), 117 pages. 
This is a defense of Captain Jesse Duncan Elliott. 
History of the Navy of the United States of America 



(Philadelphia, 1839), vol. ii, 385-405- 

There are several subsequent editions of this book (see R. W. 
Neeser's Statistical and Chronological History of the United States 
Navy, vol. i, 107). 

Dawson, Henry Barton. Battles of the United States by 
Sea and Land, etc. (New York, 1858), vol. ii, 274-290. 
This book may be consulted for its references. 

Dawson, Moses. Historical Narrative of the Civil and Mil- 
itary Services of Major-general William H. Harrison, etc. 
(Cincinnati, 1824), 414-417. 

Dobbins, William W. History of the Battle of Lake Erie, 
September 10, 18 13, and Reminiscences of the Flagship 
Lawrence (Erie, 1876), 96 pages. 

Dobbins has used the papers of his father, Sailing-master Daniel 
Dobbins, one of Perry's officers. A second edition was published 
in 1913. 

Eaton, Joseph Giles. Perry's Victory on Lake Erie, 18 
pages, in Papers of the Military Historical Society of Massa- 
chusetts, vol. xi, no. 7. 

Elliott, Jesse Duncan. Speech of Com. Jesse Duncan El- 
liott, delivered in Hagerstown, Md., on 14th November, 
1843, published by the Committee of Arrangement of Wash- 
ington County, Maryland (Philadelphia, 1844), 82 pages. 

This pamphlet contains Elliott's account of his conduct in the 
battle, the proceedings of the Elliott Court of Enquiry, and other 
documents relating to the controversy. 



2o8 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



Emmons, George Foster, Navy of the United States, etc. 

(Washington, 1853), 20-21. 
Frost, John. Book of the Navy, etc. (New York, 1842), 

194-213. 

This book prints the affidavits of several of Perry's officers. 

Huntington, Webster P. The Perry's victory memorial 
(Akron, 1917), 127 pages. 

Ingersoll, Charles Jared. Historical Sketch of the Second 
War between the United States of America and Great 
Britain, etc. (Philadelphia, 1845), vol. i, 148-157. 

[Irving, Washington]. Biographical Memoir of Commo- 
dore Perry, in the Analectic Magazine, vol. ii, 493-5 lO. 

This will be found in Author's Autograph Edition of Irving's 
writings (New York, 1897), Salmagundi, vol. ii, 294-314; as well as 
in other editions. 

James, William. Full and correct Account of the chief naval 
Occurrences of the late War between Great Britain and the 
United States of America, etc. (London, 1817), 283-295. 

[Jarvis, Russell]. Biographical Notice of Com. Jesse Dun- 
can Elliott, containing a Review of the Controversy between 
him and the late Commodore Perry, and a History of the 
Figure-head of the U.S. Frigate Constitution, by a Citizen 

of New York. 

The appendix of this book contains the minutes of the Elliott 
court of enquiry, affidavits and statements of various officers who 
participated in the battle, a copy of a letter of O. H. Perry to 
Secretary of the Navy G. W. Crowninshield of August 8, 1818, 
preferring charges against Elliott, and other documents relating 
to the battle. 

Kingsford, William. History of Canada (London, 1895), 
vol. viii, 310-314. 

LossiNG, Benson John. Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 
1 8 12, etc. (New York, 1868), 509-543- 

This book contains much interesting information, some of which 
must be used with caution. 

Story of the United States Navy (New York, 1811), 

183-195. 
LouNSBURY, Thomas Raynesford. James Fenimore Coo- 



BIBLIOGRAPHY 209 



per, in American Men of Letters series (Boston, 1883), 208- 

230. 

This gives an excellent account of Cooper's part in the Perry- 

Eiliott controversy. 

Lucas, Sir Charles Prestwood. Canadian War of 18 12 
(Oxford, 1906), 113-118. 

Lyman, Olin Linus. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and 
the War on the Lakes (New York, 1905), 105-206. 

[McAfee, Robert Breckenridge]. History of the late War 
in the western Country, etc. (Lexington, 18 16), 3 5 4-361. 

Mackenzie, Alexander Seidell. Life of Oliver Hazard 
Perry (New York, 1840), 2 vols. 

This book is especially full in respect to the Battle of Lake Erie. 
In the appendix it prints the charges of Perry against Elliott and 
the affidavits of several of Perry's officers. In the appendix of the 
fifth edition there is a paper of Mackenzie respecting his contro- 
versy with James Fenimore Cooper (58 pages), dated November, 

Maclay, Edgar Stanton. History of the United States 
Navy from 1775 to 1898 (New York, 1898), 492-520. 

Mahan, Alfred Thayer. Sea Power in its Relations to the 
War of 1812 (Boston, 1905), vol. ii, 62-101. 

Mills, James Cooke. Oliver Hazard Perry and the Battle 
of Lake Erie (Detroit, 191 3), 288 pages. 

Morton, Edward Payson. Lake Erie and the Story of Com- 
modore Perry (Chicago, 1913), 104 pages. 

NavalTemple, The (Boston, 1816), 155-162. 

Neeser, Robert Wilden. Statistical and Chronological His- 
tory of the United States Navy (New York, 1909), vol. ii, 

50-51. 
NiLES, John Milton. Life of Oliver Hazard Perry, with an 
Appendix, comprising Sketches of the late General Pike and 
Captain Lawrence, and a View of the present Condition and 
future Prospects of the Navy of the United States (Hart- 
ford, 1820), 72-156. 

A second edition of this book was published in 1821. 

Parsons, Usher. Battle of Lake Erie, a Discourse delivered 
before the Rhode Island Historical Society on the Evening 



2IO BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



of Monday, February i6, 1852 (Providence, 1853), 36 

pages. 

A second edition of this book was issued in 1S54. 
Parsons, Usher. Brief Sketches of the Officers who were in 
the Battle of Lake Erie (Albany, 1862), 13 pages. 

This is also printed in the New England Historical and Gen- 
ealogical Register, vol. xvli, 17-29. 

Speech of Dr. Usher Parsons at Put-in-Bay, September 

10, 1858, the Celebration of the 45th Anniversary of the 
Battle of Lake Erie [Providence?, 1858], 4 pages. 

This is published in the New England Historical and Genealogi- 
cal Register, vol. xiii, 171-174. 

[Perry, Matthew Calbraith]. Documents in relation to 

the Differences between the late Commodore O. H. Perry 

and Captain J. D. Elliott (Washington, 1821 ; Boston, 

1834), 38 pages. 

This pamphlet contains O. H. Perry's letter to the Secretary of 
the Navy G. W. Crowninshield of August 8, 1818, preferring 
charges against Elliott, a copy of the charges, correspondence be- 
tween Elliott and Perry and others in 1818 which threatened to lead 
to a duel, and affidavits of officers favorable to Ferry. 

Perry, Oliver Hazard. Life of Commodore Perry, in the 
Portfolio, 1814, vol. i, 210-217. 

Perry-Elliott Controversy. Review of a Pamphlet pur- 
porting to be Documents in relation to the Differences which 
subsisted between the late Commodore Oliver H. Perry, 
and Captain Jesse D. Elliott, by a Citizen of Massachusetts 
(Boston, 1834), 55 pages. 

This is a defense of Elliott. Many important documents relat- 
ing to his controversy with Perry are printed. 

Perry Memorial and Centennial Celebration. Published by 
direction of the Inter-state Board of the Perry's Centennial 
Commissioners (Cleveland, 1912), 22 pages. 

Perry Monument. Report of bill for a Perry Monument at 
Put-in-Bay, by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee 
on the Library, in U.S. House Reports, 51st Congress, first 
session, no. 2142. 
The bill was favorably reported. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY 211 



Perry Monument. Report on Bill for a Perry Monument 
at Put-in-Bay, by the U.S. House of Representatives Com- 
mittee on the Library, in U.S. House Reports, 52d Congress, 
first session, no. 1214. 
The bill was favorably reported. 

Perry Statue. Inauguration of the Perry Statue at Cleve- 
land, on the Tenth of September, i860, including the Ad- 
dresses and other Proceedings, with a Sketch of William 
Walcutt, the Sculptor, published by Direction of the City 
Council (Cleveland, 1861), 128 pages. 

This contains many interesting documents relating to the battle. 
Among others, a letter of Lewis Cass, giving an account of the re- 
ception of Perry's famous dispatch at Seneca (pp. 21-22), brief 
accounts of the battle by a gunner and a sailor who participated 
in it (pp. 82-86), and accounts of the reception at various places 
of the news of Perry's victory (pp. 91-97). 

Perry Statue. Inauguration of the Perry Statue, with the 
Addresses of William P. Sheffield, and the Remarks in re- 
ceiving the Statue by Governor Wetmore and Mayor Frank- 
lin, etc. (Newport, 1885), 60 pages. 

This pamphlet contains the addresses delivered at the inaugura- 
tion of the Perry statue at Newport on September 10, 1885. In 
the appendix are several poems respecting the battle of Lake Erie. 

Perry Statue. Order of Services appointed for laying the 
Foundation Stone of the Perry Statue, in the city of New- 
port, by the M. W. Grand Lodge of Rhode Island (New- 
port, 1885), 15 pages. 

Perry's Victory Centenary. Published by the Perry's Vic- 
tory Centennial Commission of New York (Albany, 191 6), 
309 pages. 

Perry's Victory Centennial Souvenir. Published by the edi- 
torial staff of the Journal of American History (New York, 
I9i3)» 96 pages. 

Roosevelt, Theodore. Naval War of 1812, etc., uniform 
edition (Philadelphia, 1902), vol. i, 308-340. 

This work first appeared in 1882. There are several editions 
of it. 



212 BIBLIOGRAPHY 



Roosevelt, Theodore. War with the United States, 1812- 
15, in William Laird Clowes' Royal Navy, vol. vi, 1 17-128. 

Spalding, Rufus Paine. Anniversary^ of the Battle of Lake 
Erie (Sandusky, 1859), 18 pages. 

This contains an oration by Spalding delivered on September 10, 
1859, when the corner-stone of a monument was laid at Put-in-Bay, 
Ohio. 

Spears, John Randolph. History of Our Navy, from its 
Origin to the present Day, 1775- 1897 (New York, 1897), 
vol. ii, 280-325. 

Tiffany, Nina Moore and Francis. Harm Jan Huidekoper 
(Cambridge, 1904), 181-190. 

Ward, James Harman. Manual of Naval Tactics, etc. 
(New York, 1870), 76-80. 

Whitman, Benjamin. Heroes of the North, or the Battles 
of Lake Erie and Lake Champlain (Boston, 18 16). 

This book contains two poems, one on the battle of Lake Erie 
and the other on the battle of Lake Champlain; and three engrav- 
ings, two of the battle of Lake Erie (by P. Maverick, Newark, New 
Jersey), and one of the battlo of Lake Champlain. 

Yaple, George Reid. Perry at Erie (Erie, 1913), 39 pages. 



INDEX 



INDEX 



Adams, Henry: work cited, 205 

Adams, John: 85 

Adams, Samuel W: 194 and foot- 
note 

Allen, James W: 58, 84 

Allston, Joseph Blythe: work cit- 
ed, 205 

Almy, Sailing-master Thomas C: 
24, footnote 

Amherstburg (Canada) : 22, 24, 

34. 67, 151, 157. 158, 159. 161, 
162, 163, 165 

Analectic Magazine: cited, 208 

Ariel (U.S.S.) : 21, 24, footnote, 
27, 28-31, 34, 79 and footnote, 
82, 86, 88, 91, 95, 99, 103, 109, 
i33> ^+7> ^^82, 191; armament 
of, 74 

Armstrong, John: work cited, 205 

Artus, James: 86 

Baggs, William: 85 

Baltimore (Md.) : honors Perry, 
36 

Bancroft, George: work cited, 205 

Barclay, Commander Robert 
Heriot: sketch of life, 23, foot- 
note; 24 and footnote, 28-33, 
75. 83, 92. 109, 177, 192, 199; 
honors 36, footnote; letter to, 
SI, 53; letter of, 65, 67-74; 
court-martial, 135-167; appear- 
ance, 140, footnote; finding of 
court-martial, 153-154; state- 
ment to court-martial, 155-167 



Barlin, Elijah: 85 

Barnes, James: works cited, 205 

Battle of Lake Erie: events lead- 
ing up to, 17-24; general ac- 
count, 24-25 ; account of Roose- 
velt, 27-34; accounts by Perry, 
47-49, 79-87; account by Inglis, 
53-54; account by Parsons, 57- 
58, 123-125; prisoners taken, 61- 
62, footnote; account by Bar- 
clay, 67-75 ; casualties, 75 ; Sec- 
retary of Navy respecting, 113- 
114, 1 19-120; information con- 
cerning, 141-167, 174-201 ; bib- 
liography of, 205-212 

Battle of Lake Erie Celebration: 
205 

Battle of Lake Erie Centennial: 
205 

Belvidera (British naval ship) : 
137, footnote 

Bennet, Daniel: 86 

Bignell, Lieut. George: 22, 70 and 
footnote, 75, 163 

Bird, James: 85 

Bixby, William Keeney: mention- 
ed, 41, footnote, 59 

Black, Capt. James: 141 

Black Rock: see Buffalo 

Boston (Mase.) : 35, 36 

Bowen, Abel: work cited, 205 

Bowman, Godfrey: 86 

Brace, Capt. Edward: 137, 139 

Brackenridge, Henry Marie: work 
cited, 206 



2l6 



BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



Brevoort, Capt. Henry B: 80, foot- 
note, 82, 95 

Brooks, Lieut. John: 32, 80, foot- 
note, 81; sketch of, 58, foot- 
note; death of, 81 

Brown, James: 84 

Brown, John E: 85 

Brown, Samuel R: works cited, 
206 

Buffalo (N. Y.): 20, 159 

Buchan, Lieut. Edward: 24, foot- 
note, 31, 70, 75 

Bunnell, David C: work cited, 206 

Burdeen, John: 85 

Burges, Tristam: work cited, 55, 
206, 207 

Burnett, William: 85 

Burnham, John: 85 

Butler, Thomas: 58, 84 

Byron, Capt. Richard: 137 and 
footnote, 139 

Caledonia (U.S.S.) : 21, 24, foot- 
note, 27-34, 68, 82, 144, 147, 174- 
184, 186-192, 194-196, 199, 200; 
armament of, 73, 88; wounded 
on board, 86 

Calvert, George Henry: work cit- 
ed, 206 

Campbell, John: 24, footnote, 74 

Canada: 18, 19, 34, 103 

Carty, James: 58, 84 

Champlin, Sailing-master Stephen: 
24, footnote, 34, 80, footnote, 82 

Chapman, Nathan: 85 

Chauncty, Commodore Isaac: 19, 
45, 120, 130 and footnote, 206 

Chauncey, Peter S: 45 

Cliillicothe (Ohio) : 91 and foot- 
note 

Chippeway (British naval ship) : 
28, 31, 33, 7+, 75, 83, 88, 157, 
180, 192; armament, 148 



Christie, David: 85 

Clark, Midshipman John: 80, 
footnote, 87; death of, 81-82 

Clark, Thomas: work cited, 206 

Claxton, Thomas: 80, footnote, 
85 ; wounded, 82 

Clay, Cassius Marcellus: work 
cited, 206 

Clay, John: 85 

Clowes, William Laird: quotsri, 
34; work cited, 212 

Cochran, Samuel: 86 

Conkling, Lieut. A. H. M: 24, 
footnote 

Congress, U. S; purchases captur- 
ed fleet, 36; honors Perry, 36- 

37 

Constitution (U.S.S.) : 137, foot- 
note 

Cooper, James Fenimore: defends 
Elliott, 27, footnote; works cit- 
ed, 207, 209 

Cornell, George: 85 

Couche, Edward: 164 and footnote 

Cranston, William: 58, 84 

Crowninshield, B. W. (secretary 
of the navy) : 172 and footnote, 
202, 208 

Cummings, Francis: 85 

Cummings, Midshipman John L: 
86; testimony of, 198-199, foot- 
note 

Dacres, Capt. James Richard: 137 
and footnote, 139 

Daring, William: 85 

Davidson, Charles: 86 

Davidson, Henry: 86 

Davis, William: 86 

Dawson, Henry Barton: work cit- 
ed, 65, 207 

Dawson, Moses: work cited, 207 

Dawson, William: 84 



INDEX 



217 



Decatur, Capt. Stephen: 133 and 
footnote, 171, footnote 

Denning, Joseph: 85 

Detroit (British naval vessel) : 
23, 24, footnote, 27-34, 53. 57. 
58, 67-69, 71, 75, 83, 91, 138, 
140, 143-148, 151. 152, 159; 
161, 176, 180, 189, 191, 192, 195, 
198, 199; armament, 73, 88 

Detroit (Mich.) : 17, 37, 124, 133 

Detroit River: 19, 120 

Dobbins, Daniel: 207 

Dobbins, William W: work cited, 
79, 207 

Dover (British ship) : 70 and foot- 
note, 142 and footnote, 152, 163 

Drummond, Capt. Adam: 137, 139 

Easterbrook, Jeremiah: 85 

East Sister Island: 43, footnote 

Eaton, Joseph Gilis: article cited, 
207 

Edwards, Lieut. John J: 80, foot- 
note, 82, 86, 187 and footnote, 
200 

Elliott, Capt. James Duncan: con- 
troversy with Perry, 13, 27, 206- 
210; sent to Buffalo, 19-20; 
joins Perry, 22, 24, footnote, 29, 
30, 33, 80, 206; medal, 37; court 
of enquiry, 167, 171-199; letter 
of, 171-172; opinion of court, 
201 ; defense of, 207, 210; speech 
of, 207 

Emmons, George Foster: work cit- 
ed, 208 

Epervier (U.S.S.) : 179, footnote 

Erie (Pa.) : 20, 23, 24, 91, 124, 
156, footnote, 158-1C0 

Erie Bar (near Erie, Pa.) : 20, 21, 
120 

Evans, Capt. Samuel: 174, 184, 
197 



Fairfield, Stephen: 85 
Farnuhar, Capt. Arthur: 137, 139 
Felton, John: 86 

Finnis, Commander Robert A: 24, 
footnote, 30, 69, 75, 144, 146, 

155, 159 
Foote, Edward Jarnes (British 

rear-admiral) : 137, 139 
Forrest, Lieut. Dulaney: 41, 45, 

80, footnote, 81, 84, 99, 181; 

testimony of, 199-200 
Fort Dearborn: 17 
Fort George (Canada) : 156 
Fort Maiden: see Maiden 
Fort Meigs: 18, 63 
Fort Michilimackinac: 17, 34 
Fort Seneca: 18, 22 
Fort Stephenson: 18 
Fort Wayne: 18 
Foster, Midshipman James: 75 
Fowke, Capt. George: 137, 139 
Fowler, Ezekiel : 84 
Freeman, John: 86 
Frolic (U.S.S.) : 171 
Frost, John: work cited, 208 

Garden, Lieut. John Campbell: 

71, 75, 144 

Garland, Lieut. John: 31, 70, 75 

Gateshill, Henry: 75 

Georgia, legislature of: thanks 
Ferry, 36 

Ghent, treaty of: 34 

Gilmour, — (deputy commission- 
er general) : 164 

Gilmore, Richard: 164, footnote 

Gladiator (British naval ship) : 

137, 139 
Graham's Magazine: cited, 207 
Green, Isaac: 87 
Greetham, Mr. — : 139, 154 
Guerriere (British naval ship) : 

137, footnote 



2l8 



BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



Hall, Ronvell: 86 

Hall Jr., Dr. A: 125 

Hadley, James: 85 

Hambleton, Samuel: 80, footnote, 
wounded, 82, 84, 87 

Hammond, Thomas: 85 

Hardy, Isaac: 86 

Harland, Jesse: 84 

Harrington, Charles, 85 

Harrison, Gen. William Henry: 
movements of, 18-19, 34 and 
footnote; 21, 22, 23; dispatches 
to, 41, 43; letters to, 59, 63-64, 
91, 93, 95, 124, 158, 207 

Harvey, Lieut.-Col. John: 159 

Hazard, Newport: 85 

Heath, Capt. — : 205 

Helan, James: 85 

Heywood, Capt. Peter: 141 

Hill, Robert: 85 

Hill, Thomas: 85 

Hoffman, John: 58, 84 

Hoffmeister, J. M: 71, 75 

Holdup, Lieut. Thomas: 24, foot- 
note, 181 

Horton, Capt. Benjamin: 63, foot- 
note 

Horton, Jr., Capt. Benjamin: 63, 
footnote 

Horton, Capt. James: 63, footnote 

Horton, Capt. William: 63, foot- 
note 

Hull, Gen. Isaac: 17, 18 

Hunter (British naval ship) : 23, 
24, footnote, 27, 28, 30, 31, 33, 
58, 70, 75, 83, 180, 189; arma- 
ment of, 88, 148 

Huntington, Webster P: work cit- 
ed, 208 

Huse, Lannon: 85 

Indlan Head (Md) : 35, footnote 
Ingersoll, Charles Jared: 208 



Inglis, Lieut. George: 31, 71;" let- 
ter of, 51, 53-54 

Irvine, Lieut. Robert: 24, footnote, 
30, 69 and footnote, 144 

Irving, L. Homfray: work cited, 
103, footnote 

Irving, Washington: work cited, 
208 

James, William: work cited, 77, 
208 

Jarvis, Russell: work cited, 183, 
footnote, 208 

Johnes, Charles: 58 

Johnson, Westerly: 84 

Johnson, William: 85 

Jones, James: 58, 84 

Jones, William (secretary of the 
navy): dispatch to, 45, 49; 
sketch of, 45 ; letters to, 77, 79- 
89, 91-92, 97, 99, loi, 103, 105, 
109, 131, 133-134; letters of, 
III, 113-114, 119-120, 127, 129- 
131 

Keen, William C: 85 
Kelly, John C: 58, 84 
Kennedy, Joseph: 58, 84 
Kingsford, William: work cited, 

208 
Kingston (Canada): 155, 162 
Kinsley, Peter: 85 

Lady Prevost (British naval 
ship) : 23, 24, footnote, 28, 30, 
33, 58, 68, 70, 71, 75, 83, 92, 157, 
157, 181, 189; armament of, 73, 

88, 147 
Lake Erie: military movements 

near, i8, 19, 34, 103, footnote, 

123, 156, 171 
Lake Huron: 17, 120 
Lake Michigan: 17 



INDEX 



219 



Lake Ontario: 92 155-157 

Laub, Midshipman Henry: 58, 80, 
footnote; death of, 8r, 84 

Lawrence (U.S.S.) : 20, 21, 24, 
footnote, 29-34, 55. 57. 58, 79" 
81, 87, 121, 123, 124, 145, 146, 
147, 175-179, 181-182, 184-200; 
armament of, 27, 73, 88; killed 
and wounded, 84-85; sick on 
board, 85 

Leonard, Master - commandant 
James T: 134 and footnote 

Lewis, Joseph: 85 

Lexington (U. S. sloop) : 35, foot- 
note 

Library of Congress (Washing- 
ton, D.C.) : 13 

Linnet (British naval brig) : 155, 
footnote 

Little Belt (British naval ship) : 
in battle of Lake Erie, 24, foot- 
note, 28, 30, 33; armament of, 
88, 148 and footnote 

Lloyd, Capt. David: 137, 139 

Long Point (Canada) : 21, 157, 
160, 161 

Lossing, John Benson: works cit- 
ed, 41, 45, 55, 208 

Lounsbury, Thomas Raynesford: 
27, footnote; work cited, 208 

Lucas, John: 86 

Lucas, Sir Charles Prestwood: 
work cited, 209 

Lyman, Olin Linus: work cited, 
209 

McAfee, Robert Breckenridge: 
work cited, 209 

McCain, Barney: 85 

MacKenzie, Alexander Slidell: 
207 ; work cited, 209 

Maclay, Edgar Stanton: work cit- 
ed, 209 



McMahoney, George: 86 
Madison, President James: 113, 

129, 133, 171 
Magrath, Purser Humphrey: 80, 

footnote, 82, 200 and footnote 
Mahan, Rear-Admiral Alfred 

Tha3'er: work cited, 27, foot- 
note; 135, 153, footnote, 209 
Maiden (Canada): 17, 19, 22, 23, 

24, 91, 120, 124 
Martin, Edward: 86 
Mason, Francis: 85 
Mason, Gen. John: 119, footnote 
Mason, Sergeant — : 86 
Mattison, Andrew, 85 
Maumee River: 18 
Maverick, P: cited, 212 
Mayhew, Christopher: 84 
Mayo, Christian: 58 
Mays, Wilson: 58, 84 
Michael, Andrew: 58, 84 
Michigan (State) : 19, 34 
Michilimackinac: see Fort Michil- 

imackinac 
Middle Sister Island: 43, footnote 
Miller, Thomas: 86 
Mills, James Cooke: work cited, 

209 
Montgomery, Midshipman John 

B: testimony of, 187-194, 187, 

footnote 
Morell, Peter: 86 
Morton, Edward Payson : work 

cited, 209 
Moses, James: 85 
Mudge, Capt. Zachariah: 137, 

139 
Mulcaster, Sir William Howe: 156 

and footnote 
Mulligan, Capt. Richard Thomas: 

13 
Murray, Commodore Alexander: 

173. 184, 197, 202 



220 



BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



Naii.es, John: 87 

National Intelligencer: reference 
' to, 45 

Naval Academy, U.S: 57, footnote 

Naval Chronicle (British) : cited, 
36, footnote, 51, 65, 140, 171, 
footnote, 174, footnote 

Naval Temple: cited, 209 

Navy Department, U.S: docu- 
ments from, 13, 21, 22, 45, 55, 
77, 89, 91, 97, loi, 105, m, 113, 
117, 119, 127, 129, 131, 135, 169, 
171 

Neeser, Robert Wilden: mentioned, 
63, footnote; work cited, 207, 
209 

Newen, John: 85 

New England Historical and Gen- 
eological Register: cited, 210 

Newport (R.I.) : 20; honors Per- 
ry, 36 

New York Historical Society: 45 

Niagara (U.S.S.): 20, 21, 24, foot- 
note, 29-34, 43, 49, 53 and foot- 
note, 57, 69, 80-82, 87, 95, 144- 
147, 171, 172, footnote, 174, 202; 
armament of, 27, 74, 88; killed 
and wounded, 86 

Niagara River: 19 

Niles' Register: cited, 35, footnote, 
36, 45, 51, 59, 65, 77, 93, 119, 
footnote, 141, 209 

O'Keefe, Arthur: 71 
Ontario (U.S.S.) : 171 and foot- 
note, 172 
Ordun, Charles: 86 

Packet, Lieut. John : 24, footnote, 

80, footnote, 82 
Page, Capt. Benjamin William: 

137, 139 
Page, Hugh N: 183 



Parsons, Charlotte: 125 

Parsons, Dr. Usher: quotation 
from diary, 55, 57-58 ; letter of, 
121, 123-125; works cited, 209- 
210 

Parsons, William: letter to, 121, 
123-125 

Pennsylvania, legislature of: 
thanks Perry, 36 

Perkins, Isaac: 86 

Perkins, William B: 85 

Perry, Capt. C. R: 20, footnote 

Perry, Commodore Oliver Hazard: 
20, 24, footnote, 36, 43, footnote, 
73, footnote, 153, footnote, 211; 
sketch of life, 20, footnote, 35, 
footnote; early movements on 
Lake Erie, 20-24; i" battle of 
Lake Erie, 28-34, 57, 59, 63-64, 
69, 72, 174-181; quotations from 
letters, 21-23; movements after 
battles, 34, footnote, 35; honors 
to, 35-37; despatches of, 41, 43; 
letters of, 45, 49, 59, 63-64, 77, 
79-87, 89, 91-92, 93, 95, 97, 99, 
loi, 103, 109, 127, 129-130, 131, 
I33-I34, 206, 208; letters to, 
III, 113-114, 117, 119-120; pro- 
motion, 27; books and articles 
on, 206-212 

Perry-Elliott Controversy: 13, 27, 
206-210; book on, 210 

Perry Memorial and Centennial 
Celebration: 210 

Perry Monument: 210, 2H 

Perry Statue: 211 

Perry's Victory Centenary: 211 

Perry's Victory Centennial Sou- 
venir: 211 

Peters, Nelson: 58, 84 

Philadelphia (U.S.S.) : 133, foot- 
note 

Philips, James: 86 



INDEX 



221 



Piatt, George: 86 

Pohig, Charles: 58, 84 

Porcupine (U.S.S.) : 21, 24, foot- 
note, 27, 29, 30, 86, 87, 88, 147, 
176, 191; armament of, 73 

Portage River: 103 and footnote, 
109 

Portsmouth (Eng.) : 137, 139 

Presque Isle: see Erie (Pa.) 

Prevost, Sir George: 155 and foot- 
note, 160, 162, 165, 167 

Price, Benoni: 85 

Pring, Commander Daniel: 155 
and footnote 

Procter, Gen. Henry: 64 and foot- 
note, 67, 160-167 

Purvis, Lieut. Francis: 71; testi- 
mony of, 144-151 

Public Record Office (London) : 
documents from, 13, 51, 65 

Put-in-Bay (Lake Erie) : 22, 24, 
28, 57, 67, 68, 79, 91, 99, 123, 
175, 210, 212 

Queen Charlotte (British naval 
ship): 23, 24, footnote, 27, 28, 
30. 31, 33, 34, 53, 54, 58, 68-72, 
75, 83, 92, 142-144, 146, 151, 
152, 157, 158, 180, 187, 189, 193, 
198, 202; armament of, 73, 88, 

147 
Quilliam, Capt. John: 137, 139 

Raisin River: 18 

Rattlesnake (U.S.S.) : 171 

Reed, Thomas: 85 

Rhode Island Historical Society: 
55, 121 

Robinson, Thomas: 85 

Rodgers, Lieut. George Washing- 
ton: 174, 184, 197 

Rodgers, Commander John: 137, 
footnote, 174, footnote 

Roe, William: 85 



Rolette, Lieut. Francis: 31, 75 
Roosevelt, Col. Theodore: quoted, 

27-33; works cited, 211-212 
Rose, John: 58, 84 
Rottenburg, Gen. Francis Baron 

de: 160 and footnote 
Rumas, John: 83 

Sacketts Harbor (N.Y.) : 19 

Salmagundi: cited, 208 

Sandusky Bay: 19, 22, 23, 103, 
footnote, 120 

Sandusky River: 18 

Sansford, James: 86 

Schroeder, Henry: 85 

Scoffield, George: 86 

Scorpion (U.S.S.) : 21, 24, foot- 
note, 27, 29, 31, 34, 82, 87, 147, 
176, 180, 187, 191; armament 
of, 74, 88 

Scott, Corporal — : 86 

Senat, Sailing-master George: 24, 
footnote 

Senecatown : see Fort Seneca 

Seymour, Capt. George Francis: 

137, 139 

Sharbley, Philip: 84 

Simpson, William: 85 

Sloss, William: 86 

Slyhamamer, John: 87 

Smith, John: 58, 84 

Smith, Lieut. Joseph E: 80, foot- 
note, 82, 200 and footnote 

Somers (U.S.S.): 21, 24, footnote, 
27, 29, 30, 86, 147, 176; arma- 
ment of, 74, 88 

South Bass Island: 22, 23 

Spalding, Rufus Paine: work cit- 
ed, 212 

Spears, John Randolph: work cit- 
ed, 212 

Spy^vood, Samuel: 84 

Stevens, Lieut. Thomas Holdup: 
see Holdup 



222 



BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 



Stewart, Charles West: 13 
Stokoe, Lieut. Thomas: 30, 69, 75; 

testimony of, 142-144, 151-152 
Stone, Jonas: 85 
Strebeck, John M: 86 
Swartout, Midshipman Augustus: 

80, footnote, 85; wounded, 8i 
Sykes, Ethelred or Eatheldras: 58, 

84 

Tatem, Robert S: testimony of, 
195-197 

Taylor, Sailing-master W.V: 55, 
80, footnote, 84, i8i 

Thames, battle of: 34, 124, foot- 
note 

Thompson, William: 85 

Tiffany, Francis: work cited, 27, 
footnote, 212 

Tiffany, Nina Moore: work cited, 
27, footnote 212 

Tigress (U.S.S.): 21, 24, foot- 
note, 27, 29, 30, 87, 147, 176, 
183, footnote; armament 73 

Trapnel, Joshua: 86 

Trippe (U.S.S.) : 24, footnote, 27, 
29, 30, 34. 87, 147, 176, 183, 
footnote; armament of, 73 

Tuff, Thomas: 85 

Turner, Lieut. Daniel: 24, foot- 
note, 32, 80, footnote, 92, 183 
and footnote, 188 

Upper Canada: see Canada 

Vandyke, Charles: 85 
Vanpoole, Henry: 85 
Varnum, George: 85 
Vincent, Gen. John: 156 and foot- 
note, 159, 160 and footnote 

Wabash River: 18 
Waddington, James: 85 
Wade, Nathaniel: 85 



Ward, James Harman: work cit- 
ed, 212 

Warren, Admiral Sir John Bor- 
lase: 155 and footnote, i66 

Washington (D.C.) : honors Per- 
ry, 36, 41, 45, 77, 113, 119, 129, 
169, 173 

Webster, Lieut. Nelson: 80, foot- 
note, 83 ; testimony of, 174-179, 
184-187 

West Sister Island or (Western 
Sisters) : 24, 43 and footnote, 
49 

Wheaton, Henry: 174 and foot- 
note, 184, 202 

White, John: 86 

Whitman, Benjamin: work cited, 
212 

Wiley, Elias: 86 

Williams, Abner: 84 

Williams, George: 85 

Williams, Jesse: 85 

Wilson, Robert: 86 

Wilson, Thomas: 86 

Winsor, Justin: 27, footnote 

Wolfe (British corvette) : 155 

Wood, Capt. Sir James Athol: 137, 
139 

Woodford, Sir Ralph: 35, foot- 
note 

Yancey, Goodloe Earle: 13 

Yaple, George Reid: work cited: 
212 

Yarnall, Lieut. John J: 31, 80 and 
footnote, 84, 91; wounded, 81; 
testimony, 179-184 

Yeo, Commodore Sir James Lu- 
cas: letter to, 65, 67-75; ^37 and 
footnote, 140, 141 and footnote, 
156-163, i66, 167 

Young, Dr. George Peter Martin: 
testimony of, 152-153 

York (Canada) : 156 



Prepared for publication and privately printed for 

The Rowfant Club, on Venetia handmade paper, by 

The Arthur H. Clark Company 

Cleveland, MCMXViii 



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